title: Quantification of granulocyte elastase inhibitors in human mixed saliva and in pure parotid secretion.
abstract: The predominant inhibitors of granulocyte elastase in plasma (alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and alpha 2-macroglobulin) together with antileukoproteinase were quantified in parotid secretion and mixed saliva. Antileukoproteinase was the only inhibitor found in parotid saliva and was present in a concentration about 30 times the serum level, suggesting a local production. In mixed saliva, antileukoproteinase accounted for more than 70% of the molar concentration of the granulocyte elastase inhibitors studied. alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitor was measurable in about 1/3 of the specimens of mixed saliva. In parotid secretion, antileukoproteinase was present only as a free, active inhibitor. In mixed saliva about 15% of antileukoproteinase was in complex with granulocyte elastase, while the remaining amount of 85% was inhibitorily active. This suggests that antileukoproteinase has a biological function in a local defence mechanism directed towards the effects of granulocyte elastase in the oral cavity and salivary glands.
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012463:Saliva / Q000502:physiology*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase