Uninhibited proteinases are able to cleave major extracellular matrix proteins, such as elastin and collagen (as well as fibrinogen), during neutrophil migration, damaging core lung structures - leading to the development of emphysema (Senior et al., 1977; Kao et al., 1988) and the amplification of neutrophilic inflammation. This evidence concerns the gene ELN and pulmonary emphysema.