Neutrophil elastase promotes infection interferon-β.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a deadly illness caused by that provokes liver and spleen inflammation and tissue destruction. In cutaneous leishmaniasis, the protein of , named inhibitor of serine peptidases (ISP) 2, inactivates neutrophil elastase (NE) present at the macrophage surface, resulting in blockade of TLR4 activation, prevention of TNF-α and IFN-β production, and parasite survival. We report poor intracellular growth of in macrophages from knockout mice for NE (), TLR4, or TLR2.