CELA1

Chymotrypsin-like elastase family member 1 (CELA1) commonly referred to as elastase-1 (ELA1).Elastases form a subfamily of serine proteases that hydrolyze many proteins in addition to elastin. Humans have six elastase genes which encode the structurally similar proteins elastase 1, 2, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B. This enzyme has been linked to chronic pancreatitis. A study was done in which the concentration of elastase was measured in patients with chronic pancreattis and those with nonpancreatic digestive diseases. It was concluded that those who had the chronic pancreattis had elastase levels that were below 190 μg/g, (which was the cut off point in making that determination).

Elastase-1 was formerly designated pancreatic elastase 1. However unlike other is_associated_with::elastases, pancreatic elastase 1 is not expressed in the pancreas. Hence this enzyme has been renamed as elastase-1. To date, elastase 1 expression has only been detected in skin is_associated_with::keratinocytes. Clinical literature that describes human elastase 1 activity in the pancreas or fecal material is actually referring to chymotrypsin-like elastase family, member 3B (is_associated_with::CELA3B).

Further studies have been conducted, which propose a progressive use of Elastase-1 and its role in distinguishing between cystic fibrosis and pancreatic inefficiencies.This was administered by having patients fill out questionnaires and submit stool specimen that were analyzed for fecal elastase-1 (FE-1). From these results it was concluded that those whose FE-1 was >200 μg/g stool and they had never had pancreatitis. The results showed a median of 0 μg/g stool. This data is crucial to prognostication, treatment, and to avoid misclassification in clinical research with those who have cystic fibrosis