The Role of Serine Proteases and Antiproteases in the Cystic Fibrosis Lung

Figure 1

In the cystic fibrosis lung, antiprotease production by both innate immune cells and respiratory epithelial cells is overwhelmed by protease production resulting mainly from neutrophils. This leads to a disruption of the homeostatic protease/antiprotease balance resulting in a number of detrimental effects causing increase lung pathology.