Inhibition of elastase from granulocytes by the low molecular weight bronchial protease inhibitor

The low molecular weight bronchial protease inhibitor isolated from purulent bronchial secretions of man was shown to be a potent inhibitor of the elastase from human granulocytes. At a molar ratio of 1:1, the inhibitor prevented elastase digestion of insoluble elastin and soluble elastin, and blocked the hydrolysis of t-BOC-L-alanine-p-nitrophenyl ester. The collagenolytic activity of granulocyte collagenase was not inhibited by the bronchial inhibitor. Antisera were raised in rabbits for the isolation of specific IgG fractions in order to localize and quantitate the inhibitor. 125I-labelled inhibitor was used to study enzyme interactions further by gel filtration. These studies demonstrated that the bronchial inhibitor formed firm complexes with granulocyte elastase but did not form complexes with granulocyte collagenase.