Human pre-alpha-inhibitor is a positive acute-phase protein that is more susceptible than inter-alpha-inhibitor to proteolysis by stimulated neutrophils.
BACKGROUND
Pre-alpha-inhibitor (PalphaI) is a human plasma serine-proteinase inhibitor that is structurally related to inter-alpha-inhibitor (IalphaI). It is composed of a heavy chain named H3 covalently linked to bikunin by means of a glycosaminoglycan chain. We developed an ELISA procedure making it possible to measure PalphaI for the first time and we investigated its levels in sera from patients with inflammatory diseases.


METHODS
We generated rabbit anti-H3 immunoglobulins, which were used on solid phase and biotinylated antibikunin immunoglobulins to detect trapped PalphaI.


RESULTS
We demonstrate that PalphaI is more susceptible than IalphaI to in vitro proteolysis by stimulated neutrophils. However, the degradation products thus released as well as the other members of the IalphaI family present in serum do not affect the ELISA test. In a panel of control sera we observed PalphaI concentrations of 25.6 +/- 7.8 mg L-1 (mean +/- SD; n = 30). These values increased to 64.2 +/- 16.06 mg L-1 (mean +/- SD; n = 15) in patients with inflammatory diseases, concording with the positive acute-phase protein nature of PalphaI. However, for all these patients, the serum concentrations of PalphaI and C-reactive protein poorly correlated (r = 0.476; P = 0.076). Indeed, four patients had a relatively weaker increase in their PalphaI level than that of C-reactive protein. More often than not their plasma elastase content was then elevated.


CONCLUSIONS
During inflammatory diseases plasma PalphaI levels may be dependent on increased synthesis in combination with enhanced catabolism, perhaps implicating neutrophil or other proteinases.
Mizon
C
C
Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France.
Queyrel
V
V
Balduyck
M
M
Drobecq
H
H
Hachulla
E
E
Mizon
J
J
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D011817:Rabbits; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; C061151:pre-alpha-trypsin inhibitor; C011877:inter-alpha-inhibitor