Leucocyte migration inhibition in vitro with inhibitors of aspartic and sulphhydryl proteinases.

The human leucocyte migration in the leucocyte migration under agarose technique ( LMAT ) was investigated with specific inhibitors of aspartic, sulphhydryl , metallo- and serine proteinases. The general aspartic proteinase inhibitor pepstatin and the highly specific competitive cathepsin D inhibitor, N-gly-glu-gly-phe-leu-gly-D-phe-leu suppressed leucocyte migration at concentrations of 20-200 mumol/l and 30-59 mumol/l, respectively. The suphhydryl enzyme inactivator, N-ethylmaleimide suppressed leucocyte migration at concentrations of 100-200 mumol/l. Several inhibitors of serine- and metallo enzymes were tested, but none had any effect on leucocyte mobility, although the metal binding agent 8-hydroxyquinoline was strongly inhibitory to cell migration, the significance of which is discussed.