Introduction
Neutrophil elastase is encoded by the ELANE gene in humans, which resides on chromosome 19. Elastases form a subfamily of serine proteases that hydrolyze many proteins in addition to elastin. Humans have six elastase genes that encode structurally similar proteins. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate the active protease. Following activation, this protease hydrolyzes proteins within specialized neutrophil lysosomes, called azurophil granules, as well as proteins of the extracellular matrix. The enzyme may play a role in degenerative and inflammatory diseases through proteolysis of collagen-IV and elastin. This protein also degrades the outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of E. coli as well as the virulence factors of such bacteria as Shigella, Salmonella, and Yersinia. Mutations in this gene are associated with cyclic neutropenia and severe congenital neutropenia (SCN). This gene is present in a gene cluster on chromosome 19. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2016]
Direction of Drugs Discovery
• ELANE Inhibitor
• ELANE Modulator
• Developing New Clinical Effects on ELANE from Existing Drugs
Drugs
• ELANE Inhibitor- Sivelestat sodium hydrate, AZD9668, DX-890, L-694,458, L-694,458, POL-6014
• ELANE Modulator- Tiprelestat, SR-26831, BAY 85-8501