Dust mite information site for people with asthma, rhinitis or eczema.

2008 – Neutrophil activity, COPD and Der p1

Although smoking is associated with COPD, almost half of patients diagnosed with the lung disease have never smoked. Something else is going on.

There is speculation that severe and sustained inflammation in the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis and COPD may be due in part to the proteolytic activity of elastase, the cytotoxic moleucules produced by neutrophils in defence of the lungs. In 2003 researchers demonstrated that house dust mite allergen Der p1 can interfere with a natural control that inhibits the harmful effects of elastase, (Am.J. Respir. Cell. Mol. Biol. 2003; 29: 381). Interference of this natural control (elafin) by mite allergen Der p1 may therefore act to amplify neutrophil elastase harm. This paper is an important review of neutrophil elastase and neutrophil elastase inhibitors.

Similar pages

1. 2008 – ADAM33, the first asthma gene.
2. 2011 – Neutrophil activity investigated in dust mite-related asthma
3. 2010 – Active allergy to house dust mites makes asthma/COPD worse
4. COPD in non-smokers – a population larger than realized
5. 2008 – Mite exposure triggers immune reactions beyond allergy

‘Neutrophil Elastase (NE) and NE Inhibitors: Canonical and Noncanonical Functions in Lung Chronic Inflammatory Diseases (Cystic Fibrosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)’, Ali Roghanian, Jean-Michel Sallenave, J. Aerosol Medicine & Pulmonary Drug Delivery, 2008, Vol. 21; No. 1: p 125-144.