Granulocyte elastase cleaves human high molecular weight kininogen and destroys its clot-promoting activity

Purified human granulocyte elastase cleaved purified human high molecular weight (HMW) kininogen into multiple low molecular weight fragments, and destroyed the clot-promoting activity of the HMW kininogen. Elastase digestion did not release kinin or destroy the bradykinin portion of the HMW kininogen molecule; kallikrein could release kinin from the elastase-induced low molecular weight digestion products of HMW kininogen. Purified alpha 1-antitrypsin prevented the destruction of the clot-promoting activity of HMW kininogen by elastase; it also delayed the clotting of normal plasma. Elastase may play a significant role in altered hemostasis as well as fibrinolysis, in areas of inflammation to which polymorphonuclear leukocytes have been attracted.