Plasma levels of elastase-specific fibrinopeptides correlate with proteinase inhibitor phenotype. Evidence for increased elastase activity in subjects with homozygous and heterozygous deficiency of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor.

Abstract excerpt

There is indirect evidence that unopposed human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is responsible for emphysema in patients with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (Pi) deficiency. To directly explore this possibility, we developed an assay for fibrinopeptide A alpha 1-21 and its degradation products and used it to measure HNE activity in 128 subjects of known Pi phenotype. The mean elastase-specific fibrinopeptide (ESF) level...

Topics

• Carboxypeptidases
• Carboxypeptidases A
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Fibrinopeptide A
• Humans
• Immune Sera
• Leukocyte Elastase
• Pancreatic Elastase
• Phenotype
• Smoking