ELASTASE INHIBITORS

摘要

Naturally occurring novel elastin derived oligopeptides, having the formula AFP, VPG and AGIP, are disclosed. The oligopeptides are strong competitive inhibitors of elastolytic serine proteases, particularly neutrophil elastases. The novel oligopeptides are useful in methods of inhibiting elastolytic serine protease and methods of detecting a disease characterized by elevated activity of elastolytic serine proteases. Methods for determining the severity of diseases characterized by elevated activity of elastolytic serine proteases are also disclosed.