Enhanced release of elastase and oxidative inactivation of alpha-1-protease inhibitor by stimulated human neutrophils exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa pigment 1-hydroxyphenazine.

The in vitro effects of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa-derived phenazine pigments pyocyanin and 1-hydroxyphenazine (1-hp) on neutrophil elastase release and myeloperoxidase-induced inactivation of alpha-1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) were investigated. 1-hp (6-25 microM), but not pyocyanin, caused a dose-dependent enhancement of elastase release by FMLP:cytochalasin B (CB)-activated human neutrophils. 1-hp (0.78-6.25 microM) also increased the oxidative inactivation of the elastase inhibitory capacity of alpha 1-PI exposed to FMLP:CB-activated neutrophils. Methionine, a scavenger of hypochlorous acid, completely protected alpha 1-PI from inactivation by stimulated neutrophils in the presence or absence of 1-hp. Similar protective effects were observed with sodium azide, an inhibitor of myeloperoxidase. P. aeruginosa-derived 1-hp may promote an elastase-antielastase imbalance in vivo by increasing the release of neutrophil elastase and by enhancing the oxidative inactivation of alpha 1-PI, thereby contributing to the development of tissue destruction in P. aeruginosa-infected patients.