Elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: inactivation of complement components and complement-derived chemotactic and phagocytic factors.
A purified elastase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was highly destructive for fluid-phase and cell-bound C1 and C3 and fluid-phase C5, C8, and C9. Inactivation of C4, C2, C6, and C7 by the enzyme varied from 0 to 67%. Low concentrations of elastase generated, then inactivated, a chemotactic factor from human C5 but not from C3. Higher enzyme concentrations inactivated the C5 chemotactic activity at a faster rate. Elastase treatment of sensitized pseudomonads containing cell-bound C3 reduced the phagocytic indexes of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The data support the proposed chemopathogenic role of the elastase in generation of the characteristic non-inflammatory Pseudomonas vasculitis.
D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006041:Goats / Q000276:immunology; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D014462:Ultrafiltration
D007106:Immune Sera; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase