LEUCOPROTEASE AND ANTI-LEUCOPROTEASE OF MAMMALS AND OF BIRDS

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology

Background:

• Blood serum contains albumin and globulin fractions with distinct enzymatic and anti-enzymatic properties.
• Polynuclear leucocytes possess leucoprotease, an enzyme involved in proteolysis.
• The interaction between serum components and leucoprotease influences inflammatory processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the inhibitory action of blood serum on leucoprotease.
• To identify the specific serum fractions responsible for inhibiting leucoprotease activity.
• To compare the anti-enzymotic activity of different mammalian and avian sera.

Main Methods:

• Fractionation of blood serum into albumin and globulin components.
• Assay of enzymatic and anti-enzymotic activities of serum fractions.
• Testing the inhibitory effects of various sera on mammalian leucoprotease.

Main Results:

• The albumin fraction of blood serum inhibits leucoprotease without possessing proteolytic activity itself.
• The globulin fraction contains a proteid-digesting enzyme, not an anti-enzyme for leucoprotease.
• Rabbit serum exhibits stronger anti-enzymotic activity against leucoprotease than dog serum.
• Avian sera (pigeon, hen) show minimal inhibition of mammalian leucoprotease.

Conclusions:

• Serum albumin is the primary inhibitor of leucoprotease.
• Differences in anti-enzymotic activity among species correlate with the presence or absence of specific enzymes in leucocytes.
• The findings shed light on species-specific variations in inflammatory responses and tissue digestion.