Isolation and partial characterization of neutrophil elastase inhibitors from bovine vitreous and aorta.

Bovine vitreous body and aorta contain extractable leukocyte elastase inhibitors, which were purified by gel filtration and affinity chromatography on agarose-pancreatic elastase. The purified inhibitor preparation from aorta was resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into a main band migrating slightly faster than commercial Trasylol and a more weakly stained band migrating close to chymotrypsinogen. The purified inhibitor preparation from both sources inhibited, in a competitive fashion, purified human leukocyte elastase and was ineffective against bovine trypsin and leukocyte cathepsin G or collagenase. These inhibitors from vitreous body and aorta were distinguishable by several criteria from serum inhibitors.