scholarly journals The role of plasma serine leukocyte proteinase inhibitor in the body's defense against COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 567-578
Author(s):  
A. L. Kravtsov ◽  
S. A. Bugorkova

The COVID-19 pandemic continues, causing colossal damage to the population and the global economy. As COVID-19 is studied, new data are emerging regarding the risk of severe coronavirus infection in patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency. α1 -Antitrypsin is the main inhibitor and key endogenous regulator of the serine leukocyte proteinase activitry released from the granules of activated neutrophils to the cell surface and into the extracellular space. It has been established that the number of cases of severe course and death of COVID-19 in the territories of 68 countries of the world correlates with the frequency of the spread of mutations in the proteinase inhibitor gene among the population of these countries, at which the concentration of α1-antitrypsin in the human blood plasma is 10 times lower than normal. All this contributes to the revision of a number of provisions of the pathogenesis and therapy of a new coronavirus infection.The review presents an analysis of the literature on the role of an inhibitor of serine leukocyte proteinases in protecting the body from COVID-19. The participation of α1-antitrypsin in the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 penetration into the respiratory tract epithelial cells, in the protection of the vascular endothelium, blood plasma proteins and elastin of the lung tissue from the damaging effect of leukocyte elastase released during neutrophil degranulation and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is considered. The role of a1-antitrypsin in suppressing inflammation by limiting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and neutrophil extracellular traps into the blood has been shown. The individual links in the pathogenesis of the new coronavirus infection have been detailed, which will allow revising the strategy for reducing the risks of severe course of COVID-19.

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
César Díaz-Godínez ◽  
Julio C. Carrero

AbstractNeutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are DNA fibers associated with histones, enzymes from neutrophil granules and anti-microbial peptides. NETs are released in a process denominated NETosis, which involves sequential steps that culminate with the DNA extrusion. NETosis has been described as a new mechanism of innate immunity related to defense against different pathogens. The initial studies of NETs were carried out with bacteria and fungi, but currently a large variety of microorganisms capable of inducing NETs have been described including protozoan and helminth parasites. Nevertheless, we have little knowledge about how NETosis process is carried out in response to the parasites, and about its implication in the resolution of this kind of disease. In the best case, the NETs entrap and kill parasites in vitro, but in others, immobilize the parasites without affecting their viability. Moreover, insufficient studies on the NETs in animal models of infections that would help to define their role, and the association of NETs with chronic inflammatory pathologies such as those occurring in several parasitic infections have left open the possibility of NETs contributing to pathology instead of protection. In this review, we focus on the reported mechanisms that lead to NET release by protozoan and helminth parasites and the evidence that support the role of NETosis in the resolution or pathogenesis of parasitic diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yilu Zhou ◽  
Weimin Tao ◽  
Fuyi Shen ◽  
Weijia Du ◽  
Zhendong Xu ◽  
...  

Neutrophils play a vital role in the formation of arterial, venous and cancer-related thrombosis. Recent studies have shown that in a process known as NETosis, neutrophils release proteins and enzymes complexed to DNA fibers, collectively called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Although NETs were originally described as a way for the host to capture and kill bacteria, current knowledge indicates that NETs also play an important role in thrombosis. According to recent studies, the destruction of vascular microenvironmental homeostasis and excessive NET formation lead to pathological thrombosis. In vitro experiments have found that NETs provide skeletal support for platelets, red blood cells and procoagulant molecules to promote thrombosis. The protein components contained in NETs activate the endogenous coagulation pathway to promote thrombosis. Therefore, NETs play an important role in the formation of arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis and cancer-related thrombosis. This review will systematically summarize and explain the study of NETs in thrombosis in animal models and in vivo experiments to provide new targets for thrombosis prevention and treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Gogol ◽  
Dominika Ostrowska ◽  
Kinga Klaga ◽  
Oliwia Bochenska ◽  
Natalia Wolak ◽  
...  

Candida albicans, a causative agent of opportunistic fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, uses ten secreted aspartic proteases (SAPs) to deregulate the homeostasis of the host organism on many levels. One of these deregulation mechanisms involves a SAP-dependent disturbance of the control over proteolytic enzymes of the host by a system of dedicated proteinase inhibitors, with one important example being the neutrophil elastase and alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (A1PI). In this study, we found that soluble SAPs 1-4 and the cell membrane-anchored SAP9 efficiently cleaved A1PI, with the major cleavage points located at the C-terminal part of A1PI in a close vicinity to the reactive-site loop that plays a critical role in the inhibition mechanism. Elastase is released by neutrophils to the environment during fungal infection through two major processes, a degranulation or formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET). Both, free and NET-embedded elastase forms, were found to be controlled by A1PI. A local acidosis, resulting from the neutrophil activity at the infection sites, favors A1PI degradation by SAPs. The deregulation of NET-connected elastase affected a NET-dependent damage of epithelial and endothelial cells, resulting in the increased susceptibility of these host cells to candidal colonization. Moreover, the SAP-catalyzed cleavage of A1PI was found to decrease its binding affinity to a proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-8. The findings presented here suggest a novel strategy used by C. albicans for the colonization of host tissues and overcoming the host defense.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonggang Ma ◽  
Xiaoyuan Yang ◽  
Victor Chatterjee ◽  
Jamie E. Meegan ◽  
Richard S. Beard Jr. ◽  
...  

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