Demonstration of a protease inhibitor in the cornea

Sequential extraction of bovine corneal homogenates with aqueous 0.154M NaCl, 0.5M NaCl and 3M guanidine HCl revealed the presence, in the two sodium chloride extracts, of trypsin inhibitory factors. Upon gel-filtration chromatography of the o.5M NaCl soluble corneal material on Sephadex G-75, two peaks with trypsin inhibitory activity were resolved. One peak was eluted in the void volume, whereas a second peak had mobility corresponding to a molecular weight fraction much lower than, and therefore distinct from, alpha 1-antitrypsin inhibitor. The possible implication of this inhibitory factor in the pathogenesis of corneal ulceration is briefly discussed.