Identification and characterization of a novel elastase inhibitor from Hirudinaria manillensis

Kuan-Hong Xu; Meng Zhou; Fei-Long Wu; Xiao-Peng Tang; Qiu-Min Lu; Ren Lai; Cheng-Bo Long

doi:10.1016/S1875-5364(21)60054-7

Identification and characterization of a novel elastase inhibitor from Hirudinaria manillensis

Chin J Nat Med. 2021 Jul;19(7):540-544. doi: 10.1016/S1875-5364(21)60054-7.

Authors

Kuan-Hong Xu¹, Meng Zhou², Fei-Long Wu³, Xiao-Peng Tang⁴, Qiu-Min Lu³, Ren Lai³, Cheng-Bo Long⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
² Chongqing Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Nanchuan 408435, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: longchengbo@mail.kiz.ac.cn.

PMID: 34247778
DOI: 10.1016/S1875-5364(21)60054-7

Abstract

A large number of protease inhibitors have been found from leeches, which are essential in various physiological and biological processes. In the curret study, a novel elastase inhibitor was purified and characterized from the leech of Hirudinaria manillensis, which was named HMEI-A. Primary structure analysis showed that HMEI-A belonged to a new family of proteins. HMEI-A exerted inhibitory effects on elastase and showed potent abilities to inhibit elastase with an inhibition constant (K_i) of 1.69 × 10^-8 mol·L^-1. Further study showed that HMEI-A inhibited the formation of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET). These results suggested that HMEI-A from the leech of H. manillensis is a novel elastase inhibitor which can suppress NET formation. It may play a significant role in blood-sucking of leeches and is a potential candidate as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Keywords: Anti-inflammation; Elastase inhibitor; HMEI-A; Hirudinaria manillensis; NET formation.

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Leeches* / chemistry
Pancreatic Elastase / antagonists & inhibitors*
Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology*
Proteins

Substances

Protease Inhibitors
Proteins
Pancreatic Elastase