Biochemical study of protease inhibitors in normal chinchilla middle ear.
Protein concentration and inhibitory capacity of both alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M) were measured in plasma and middle ear bulla (MEB) washings of chinchillas by use of specific antisera against chinchilla alpha 1-AT and alpha 2-M. Low molecular weight (LMW) trypsin inhibitor also was analyzed in MEB washings. Chinchilla alpha 2-M showed a common antigenicity with human alpha 2-M. The mean value of alpha 1-AT in chinchilla plasma was 412.0 +/- 87.8 and that of alpha 2-M was 435.0 +/- 117.1 mg/dL. There was a significant relationship between alpha 1-AT level and antitryptic activity, and between alpha 2-M level and trypsin binding activity in plasma. The majority of alpha 1-AT and alpha 2-M in plasma is present as free inhibitors unsaturated with proteases. The MEB washings had significant antitryptic activity, which is attributed to both alpha 1-AT and LMW trypsin inhibitors. Inhibitory functions of alpha 1-AT and LMW trypsin inhibitors appear to play an important role in the defense of the normal middle ear mucosa.
Hamaguchi
Y
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis.
Juhn
S K
SK
Sakakura
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000032:analysis; D002682:Chinchilla / Q000378:metabolism*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D011817:Rabbits; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*
D007106:Immune Sera; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins