Limited cleavage of human immunoglobulins by elastase of human neutrophil polymorphonuclear granulocytes. Possible modulator of immune complex disease.
Human polymorphonuclear lysosomal granules contain a neutral protease which is capable of digesting human immunoglobulins. The protease is located in the azurophil granules and enzymatically cleaves IgG, producing a Fab-like piece which is recoverable. The Fc-like fragment is not crystallized. The Fab-like fragment competes effectively for ligands formed by native antibody from which the fragments were produced.
D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000939:Epitopes; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase