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. 1998 Mar 1;330(Pt 2):897–902. doi: 10.1042/bj3300897

Cleavage of native type I collagen by human neutrophil elastase.

W Kafienah 1, D J Buttle 1, D Burnett 1, A P Hollander 1
PMCID: PMC1219222  PMID: 9480907

Abstract

The ability of purified human neutrophil elastase (EC 3.4.21.37) to cleave native type I collagen has been investigated. Soluble human, bovine or rat type I collagen was incubated with neutrophil elastase for 16 h at 25 degrees C before catalysis was stopped with 3, 4-dichloroisocoumarin. Analysis by SDS/PAGE of the collagen digests revealed 3/4-length fragments similar in size to those produced by interstitial collagenase. The collagenolytic activity was dose dependent and was not due to a contaminating metalloproteinase or cysteine proteinase, as it was not inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline, EDTA or L-trans-epoxysuccinyl-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane. The identity of the cleavage products was confirmed using a new antibody that recognizes the unwound alpha2(I)-chain. This detected the 3/4-length fragment of type I collagen following neutrophil elastase cleavage. In addition to cleaving soluble collagen, neutrophil elastase also cleaved reconstituted, radiolabelled type I collagen fibrils, at a rate of 16 microg/min per nmol. These results indicate that neutrophil elastase can cleave native type I collagen in the helix, an activity that might contribute to its roles in connective-tissue pathology.

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Selected References

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