Secretory leucoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) is an anti-inflammatory antiprotease which can inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-kappaB activation. We examined its ability to inhibit NF-kappaB activation induced by lipoteichoic acid and investigated the effects of oxidation or complex formation with neutrophil elastase on SLPI's anti-inflammatory properties in U937 myelomonocytic cells and macrophages.
Respiratory Research Division, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland. cmgreene@rcsi.ie