Neutrophils make an enzyme called neutrophil elastase, a protease capable of breaking down elastin, which is an extracellular matrix protein that gives elasticity and strength to lung tissues.

中性粒细胞产生中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶，该酶能够水解弹性蛋白；弹性蛋白是一种细胞外基质蛋白，赋予肺组织弹性和韧性。

Without alpha-1 antitrypsin, the opposite happens - neutrophil elastase goes unchecked, and it damages the walls of the alveoli, and without that elastin, the alveoli loses its elasticity and structural integrity.

如果没有α-1抗胰蛋白酶，情况就会背道而驰：中性粒细胞弹力蛋白酶不受抑制，将会损伤肺泡壁，没有了那层弹性纤维，肺泡壁便失去弹性和结构完整性。

Fortunately, the liver makes alpha-1 antitrypsin which gets released into the blood and sent to the lungs, where it inhibits neutrophil elastase just like it inhibits trypsin, inactivating it before it can break down the protein elastin.

幸运的是，肝产生α-1抗胰蛋白酶，释放入血进肺，在肺中像抑制胰蛋白酶一样，抑制中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶，使弹性蛋白酶在水解弹性纤维之前失活。