Elafin Antibodies, ELISA

Elafin, an epithelial proteinase inhibitor, belongs to the Trappin gene family and was given the systematic name Trappin-2 in a recent classification. An N-terminal transglutaminase substrate domain and a C-terminal four-disulphide core define the Trappin family. Trappins have been suggested to play a role in the regulation of inflammation and in protection against tissue damage in stratified epithelia. Elafin is an inhibitor of leukocyte elastase and proteinase-3 and is a substrate for transglutaminases. The protein is constitutively expressed in various epithelia including hair follicles, esophagus, vagina and oral cavity. Elafin is not present in normal human skin but is strongly induced during inflammation. Antibodies to Elafin have also been successfully used to study differentiation in squamous cell carcinoma of the head-and-neck region, esophagus and skin. An Elafin/SKALP ELISA kit and several monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies are available.