Elastase in the different primary granules of the human neutrophil

Elastase in the human neutrophil is associated with various subpopulations of primary granules of different density. The proportion of this enzyme that is extracted with acetate pH 4.2 and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide varies in the different subpopulations. Nevertheless, the electrophoretic mobility and relative proportions of elastase isoenzymes is the same in both extracts from the different subpopulations. On stimulation of neutrophils with N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine, elastase is not released from the least dense subpopulation, whereas other two subpopulations do undergo degranulation to approximately the same extent. However, the release of elastase from these two denser granules differs after they are isolated and treated with calcium.