Description
Polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase, from human polymorphonuclear granulocytes, is a glycoprotein of 30kDa which belongs to the group of serine proteases.
Active PMN elastase is released from azurophil granula of neutrophil granulocytes after irritation or disintegration. PMN elastase can be used as an indicator for Crohn’s disease, chronic joint inflammation and bacterial infection (sepsis). Especially in Crohn’s disease the inflammatory process go hand in hand with an increased phagocytic activity and the biological decay of these cells and thus leads to an increased release of PMN elastase and other lysosomal enzymes.
