Definition of "elastase" [elastase]

• An enzyme found especially in pancreatic juice that catalyzes the hydrolysis of elastin. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "ATT is produced by the liver and its job it to prevent an enzyme found in the lungs, called elastase, which breaks down the elastic fibers, called elastin, that make up the airways and the alveolar walls."
• "P. aeruginosa with important contributions from individual virulence factors such as elastase and alginate [6]."
• "Neutrophils from healthy volunteers were incubated with DFP (2.5 mM), and neutrophil elastase (NE) activity; hypodiploid DNA formation; caspases-3 and -8 processing and activity; exteriorization of phosphatidylserine (PS); oxidative burst activity and hydrogen peroxide release were measured."