Release of granulocyte elastase in lethal canine endotoxin shock

The release of granulocyte elastase and its interaction with plasma protease inhibitors was studied in dogs receiving a slow infusion of a lethal dose of Escherichia coli endotoxin. During endotoxin infusion a marked decline in leucocyte counts was parallelled by a rapid increase in plasma granulocyte elastase concentrations. Maximal values were reached after 3 h, when the infusion was ended. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis with antiserum against granulocyte elastase did not reveal the presence of elastase components with the electrophoretic mobility of free elastase, but elastase-alpha1-antitrypsin complexes were detected. A gradually decreasing plasma concentration of alpha2-macroglobulin was noted during the experiments. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis, however, did not reveal any electrophoretic heterogeneity. It is concluded that the release of granulocyte proteases might be of significance for several pathophysiological changes seen in endotoxin shock.