Alpha 1-antichymotrypsin is strongly immunolocalized at normal human and rat neuromuscular junctions

alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin (alpha 1-ACT) is an early-stage acute-phase plasma protein and a serpin that preferentially inactivates chymotrypsin, cathepsin G, and chymase. Using immunofluorescence with four rabbit polyclonal and two monoclonal specific antibodies against human alpha 1-ACT, we have localized alpha 1-ACT at human and rat neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). Strong alpha 1-ACT immunoreactivity (IR) was present at all NMJs identified by bound alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BT). alpha 1-ACT immunoreactivity typically extended slightly deeper into the muscle fiber than alpha-BT, and it closely co-localized with immunoreactivities of post-synaptic desmin, beta-amyloid precursor protein, and dystrophin at the same double- or triple-labeled NMJs. Topography of alpha 1-ACT-IR was the same at human and rat NMJs. The muscle non-junctional sarcolemma was either not immunoreactive or was only very slightly so. When the primary antibody was omitted, absorbed, or replaced by a non-immune serum, there was no immunostaining. Thus, alpha 1-ACT is a novel component of the NMJ. Although its role in the postsynaptic domain of the NMJ is unknown, it might be involved in the interaction between the presynaptic and postsynaptic components and/or inhibit excessive or unwanted serine proteases that may exist in the region of the NMJ.