Modifying the Protease, Antiprotease Pattern by Elafin Overexpression Protects Mice From Colitis

Abstract : BACKGROUND & AIMS:: Colon tissues of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been reported to have increased proteolytic activity, but no studies have clearly addressed the protease to anti-protease balance in the pathogenesis of colitis. We investigated the role of Elafin, a serine protease inhibitor expressed by skin and mucosal surfaces in human inflammatory conditions, and the proteases neutrophil elastase (NE) and proteinase-3 (PR-3), in mice with colitis. METHODS:: We studied mice with heterozygous disruptions in NE and PR-3and 2 strains of mice that express transgenic human elafin (an inhibitor of NE and PR-3). Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) or dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) was used to induce colitis. Protease and cytokine levels were measured in colonic tissues collected from the mice. CaCO(2) and HT29 cells were studied in assays for cytokine expression and permeability. RESULTS:: Mice that expressed transgenic elafin developed less colitis and had reduced levels of proteases than wild-type mice following administration of TNBS or DSS. Expression of elafin did not modify activities of elastase or PR-3, but inhibited their increase upon the induction of colitis. Mice that expressed reduced levels of NE and PR-3 were protected against DSS-induced colitis. Elafin expression altered the patterns of inflammatory mediators and strengthened intestinal epithelial barrier functions in cells and colonic tissues from mice. CONCLUSIONS:: The protease inhibitor Elafin prevents intestinal inflammation in a mouse model of colitis and might be developed as a therapeutic agent for IBD.