Proteolytic inactivation of human leukocyte elastase.

Human leukocyte elastase can be proteolytically inactivated by bovine pancreatic trypsin. Neither porcine pancreatic elastase nor bovine pancreatic chymotrypsin causes inactivation of leukocyte elastase, nor are trypsin, pancreatic elastase, or chymotrypsin themselves susceptible to proteolysis. The trypsin-catalyzed inactivation of leukocyte elastase can be slowed by inhibition of trypsin with benzamidine or by occupation of elastase's active site with elastatinal.