title: Neutrophil elastase and its complex with alpha 1-antitrypsin in soluble and insoluble fractions of nasal secretions of chronic sinusitis.
abstract: Immunoreactive neutrophil elastase (NE) and its complex with alpha 1-antitrypsin (AT) was measured by double antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in nasal secretions of chronic sinusitis (CS). Nasal secretions were separated into two fractions: PBS-soluble and insoluble fractions. Elastolytic activity was also examined. Mean value of total NE level was 31.0 micrograms/ml in the soluble fraction, which was significantly lower than that in the insoluble fraction (71.9 micrograms/ml, p less than 0.01). On the other hand, the percentage of complexed NE in total NE in the soluble fraction (33.7%) was significantly higher than that in the insoluble fraction (12.1%, p less than 0.01). Elastolytic activity in the soluble fraction (23.4 RFU) was significantly lower than that in the insoluble fraction (170.5 RFU, p less than 0.01). NE with elastolytic activity exists in nasal secretions of CS, and active-free NE in the insoluble fraction could be a major source of enhancement and continuation of mucosal inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamaguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzumura
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakakura
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000201:enzymology*; D012995:Solubility; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase