In contrast to the excessively elevated immunochemically detectable concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in inflammatory exudates, the IL-6 bioactivities are significantly reduced, suggesting an inactivation of IL-6 at sites of inflammation. Since high amounts of proteases are released by invading neutrophils (PMN) in close temporal correlation to elevated IL-6 concentrations at sites of inflammation, this study focused on effects of the PMN-derived proteases elastase (NE), proteinase 3 (PR 3) and cathepsin G (Cat G) on the bioactivity and molecular integrity of IL-6. Here, we demonstrate that these enzymes play a crucial role in the initiation of the degradation and subsequent inactivation of IL-6 at sites of inflammation. Soluble IL-6 receptor subunits elicit a protective effect against the IL-6 inactivation by Cat G, only. Possible consequences of the proteolytical IL-6 inactivation for local inflammatory processes will be discussed.
CITATION STYLE
Bank, U., Küpper, B., & Ansorge, S. (2006). Inactivation of Interleukin-6 by Neutrophil Proteases at Sites of Inflammation. In Cellular Peptidases in Immune Functions and Diseases 2 (pp. 431–437). Kluwer Academic Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-46826-3_43
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