FIG. 3.

Stability of neutrophil and GCF MMP-8. MMP-8 from a neutrophil preparation (top) and that from a GCF sample (bottom) were incubated at 22 or 4°C for various periods in collagenase assay buffer. Collagenolytic activity was assayed by SBA after incubation. The figure shows one example of neutrophil preparation and one of GCF that were typical of the total of 19 separate samples that were tested. In each case, the enzyme was initially stable in the first few hours and then rapidly lost activity.