title: Serum albumin, serum antiproteases and polymorphonuclear leucocyte neutral collagenolytic protease in the tear fluid of patients with corneal ulcers.
abstract: Using a micro-electroimmune assay, the concentration of polymorphonuclear leucocyte neutral collagenolytic protease, serum-albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin were measured in the tear fluid from 18 eyes of 16 patients with severe, melting corneal ulcers. By this method, PML-c-ase was the first time detected in tear fluid. All proteins normalized during healing of the ulcer. The findings are indicative of an important role for PML-proteases in the degradation of the corneal stroma, and of a regulative effect of the serum antiproteases leaking into the tear fluid from inflamed conjunctival vessels.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*; D013666:Tears / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D003012:Microbial Collagenase