| abstract |
A method for the identification of a substance that modulates serine protease activity, which method comprises contacting a cell selected from a neuronal cell, a lung cell and an intestinal cell, which cell expresses a serine protease polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or a variant thereof which has trypsin-like activity, with a test substance and monitoring for serine protease activity. The polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or substances that modulate its activity may be used in the treatment of tonsilitis, CNS disease such as Alzheimer's and respiratory disease such as asthma, COPD and fibrotic disease of the lung. |