Neutrophil elastase

Neutrophil elastase (or leukocyte elastase) is a type of enzyme that acts as a platelet activator. It consists of five exons. It is one of the two human forms of elastase.

The neutrophil form of elastase is 218 amino acids long, with two asparagine-linked carbohydrate chains (see glycosylation). It is present in azurophil granules in the neutrophil cytoplasm. There appear to be two forms of neutrophil elastase, termed IIa and IIb.

Neutrophil elastase is an important protease enzyme that when expressed aberrantly can cause emphysema or emphysematous changes. This involves breakdown of the lung structure and increased airspaces.