title: Automated measurement of the elastase-inhibitory capacity of plasma with a centrifugal analyzer.
abstract: We describe an automated method for measuring the elastase-inhibitory capacity of plasma. We use a GEMSAEC centrifugal analyzer and succinyltrialanine-p-nitroanilide as an elastase substrate. The method is fast (80--100 samples/h) and accurate (CV = 3.6%). The detection limits are from 20 to 300% of the normal value. The elastase-inhibitory capacity is well correlated with the trypsin-inhibitory capacity and with the immunochemically determined concentration of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-antitrypsin). Because elastase is not inhibited by other plasma inhibitors, this method can be used as an enzymatic technique for measuring the concentration of plasma alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. In an apparently normal population, this concentration was 40 +/- 11 mumol/L.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001322:Autoanalysis; D002498:Centrifugation; D006801:Humans; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D013552:Swine; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase