Pancreatic pseudocyst fluid--a mixture of plasma proteins and pancreatic juice possessing a high proteolytic activity.
Pancreatic pseudocyst fluid from eight patients was examined biochemically. The fluid was found to be a mixture of plasma proteins and pancreatic juice, possessing a high proteolytic activity against high- as well as low-molecular-weight proteins. The proteolytic activity was found to be trypsin-, kallikrein- and plasmin-like. Gel filtration studies showed proteolytic activity to be present corresponding to alpha-2-macroglobulin-bound proteases and also to free proteases. Quantitative immunochemical levels were about 30-100% of normal plasma levels for alpha-2-macroglobulin, C1 inhibitor, antithrombin III and alpha-2-antiplasmin. However, there was practically no functional inhibitory capacity left in the pseudocyst fluid, except for alpha-1-protease inhibitor, which retained its inhibitory capacity. Neither native kininogen nor complement factor C3 was found: this was probably a result of the proteolytic activity. It is concluded, that a continuing proteolytic activity within the pseudocyst, although decreasing with aging of the cyst, could explain symptoms and complications caused by the pseudocyst.
Lasson
A
A
Department of Surgery, Malmö General Hospital, University of Lund, Sweden.
Göransson
J
J
Ohlsson
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010181:Pancreatic Cyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D010189:Pancreatic Juice / Q000032:analysis*; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis; D014357:Trypsin / Q000032:analysis
D001798:Blood Proteins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D007610:Kallikreins; D014357:Trypsin; D005341:Fibrinolysin