title: Protein C degradation in vitro by neutrophil elastase.
abstract: Purified protein C is completely degraded into small peptides by in vitro incubation with purified elastase. Protein C is a rather sensitive substrate as degradation is already accomplished by low elastase concentrations (molar enzyme-to-substrate ratio 1:510) and short incubation periods (5 min-60 min). Protein C in a PPSB coagulation factor concentrate is equally degraded and similar split products are detected by blotting techniques. The protein C activity (measured by a chromogenic substrate) is faster reduced by elastase than the protein C concentration (measured by an ELISA). Incubation of normal plasma with high elastase concentrations (5.7 nmol/ml plasma) results in reduction of the protein C band while no split products are detectable. The pathophysiologic significance of the effects of elastase on protein C remains to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Philipps-Universität, Marburg.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eckle
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Egbring
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolb
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Havemann
mesh_terms: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007700:Kinetics; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D011486:Protein C; C025667:prothrombin complex concentrates; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase