disease:The pathologies of several chronic and acute diseases of the respiratory tract involve an imbalance between the proteases of cells involved in inflammatary responses and the inhibitors of these proteases. The inflammation-mediated release of neutrophil elastase in the lungs of patients whose levels of active alpha-1-antiprotease are compromised by genetic background, cigarette smoking, air pollutants, or a combination of all three can result in severe lung damage and a decreased lifespan. The relatively small size of this protein, its lack of glycosylation and its stability make this protein a candidate for use as a therapeutic agent in diseases mediated by leukocyte elastase-antielastase imbalances.,function:Acid-stable proteinase inhibitor with strong affinities for trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, and cathepsin G. May prevent elastase-mediated damage to oral and possibly other mucosal tissues.,similarity:Contains 2 WAP domains.,tissue specificity:Mucous fluids.,
Secreted .
Detected in blood plasma (PubMed:24352879). Detected in bone marrow myeloid cells (PubMed:24352879). Detected in airway sputum (PubMed:2039600). Detected in parotid gland secretions (PubMed:3462719). Detected in seminal plasma (at protein level) (PubMed:3485543). Detected in uterus cervix (PubMed:3533531).