Prolyl endopeptidase (PE), a protease that cleaves after proline residues in oligopeptides, is
highly active in brain and degrades neuropeptides in vitro. We have recently demonstrated
that PE, in concert with MMP's, can generate PGP (proline–glycine–proline), a novel,
neutrophil chemoattractant, from collagen. In this study, we demonstrate that human
peripheral blood neutrophils contain PE, which is constitutively active, and can generate
PGP de novo from collagen after activation with LPS. This novel, pro-inflammatory role for …