SECRETORY LEUKOCYTE PROTEASE INHIBITOR AS AN INHIBITOR OF TRYPTASE

摘要

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and active fragments thereof have been found to inhibit the proteolytic activity of tryptase. A method for treating a mast-cell mediated condition in a mammal comprises administering to the mammal an effective amount of a pharmacologically active fragment or mutein of SLPI. Treatment of asthma or allergic rhinitis in a mammal comprises administering to the mammal an effective amount of SLPI or a pharmacologically active fragment or mutein thereof. Treatment of a mast-cell mediated condition in a mammal by gene therapy comprises introducing DNA coding for SLPI or a pharmacologically active fragment thereof into the mammal by means of a vector capable of delivering DNA to the cell nucleus, resulting in secretion of SLPI or an active fragment thereof. Certain fragments and muteins of SLPI, as well as methods for inhibiting tryptase and for identifying inhibitors of tryptase are also disclosed and claimed.