because cathepsin b is capable of degrading structural lung proteins and inactivating alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor , and the elastinolytic activity of am may be mediated through cysteine proteinases such as cathepsin b , the finding of high concentrations of an enzyme with cathepsin b-like activity in am and balf from smokers suggests the need to explore the role of the enzyme in structural lung damage associated with cigarette smoking .
C2717970
cysteine proteinases
C0699919
cathepsin b