ELANE and cystic fibrosis: There is evidence of degradation of structural components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) such as elastin, collagen, and glycosaminoglycans in the CF lung; these alterations are associated with the marked and early protease/antiprotease imbalance, with the release of high quantities of matrix metalloproteases (MMP), NE, and other proteases that contribute to the tissue damage and development of bronchiectasis and emphysema [213–216].