Influence of heparin fragments on the biological activities of elastase(s) and alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor.

The in vitro and in vivo effects of heparin fragments (CY 216; CY 222) towards elastase(s) and elastase inhibitor (alpha 1 Pi) were studied. Heparin as well as its lower Mr fragments were shown to inhibit rat leucocyte elastase. The interaction between this enzyme and heparins appears to occur via electrostatic forces. Porcine pancreatic elastase is unaffected by heparin(s) but CY 216 and CY 222 could partly abolish the hydrolytic activity of hamster serum on Suc-Ala-Ala-Ala-N-PhNO2. N desulphated N acetylated CY 142 and CY 143 had no effect. CY 216 and CY 222 decreased in vitro the inhibitory potential of alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1 Pi) as well as the elastase inhibitory capacity of hamster serum. Maximum effect (30% decrease) was observed at ng concentrations of CY 216 and CY 222. Their N desulphated N acetylated counterparts (CY 142 and CY 143), but not heparin, exhibited similar effects. CY 216 and CY 222 were administered daily subcutaneously to hamsters and blood was collected 1, 2, 4, 7 and 24 hr after treatment for determining both serum elastase activity (E.A.) and serum elastase inhibitory capacity (E.I.C.). E.A. levels dropped by 30% 2 hr after CY 216 or CY 222 injection but returned to original values 4-7 hr later. This effect is independent of the duration of the treatment. Hamster serum E.I.C. was significantly increased (greater than 30%) after 3-4 weeks of treatment with CY 216 and CY 222. These findings point towards the potential use of these compounds in elastase-related diseases such as emphysema.