Granulocyte proteases in human maxillary sinus secretions.

Retained maxillary sinus secretions from 10 consecutive patients suffering from maxillary sinusitis were studied with regard to proteolytic activity and its possible sources. All secretions were proteolytically active. In 3 purulent secretions the proteolytic activity was of the same magnitude as that of a standard with an excess of pancreatic trypsin. The enzymes responsible for the proteolytical activity were found to be mainly of granulocyte origin, neutrophil elastase, unspecific collagenase and chymotrypsin-like cationic protein (CCP).