Proteases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

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Abstract
Radioimmunoassays were used to determine titers of antibody to alkaline protease (AP) and elastase (Ela) produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sera and bronchial secretions, in vitro production of AP and Ela by P. aeruginosa isolates, and occurrence of these enzymes in bronchial secretions from patients with cystic fibrosis. Titers of serum antibodies to AP ranging from 1:10 to 1:545 and to Ela ranging from 1:10 to 1:725 were found in 83%–88% of patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic lung infections due to P. aeruginosa. Antibody titers in liquefied bronchial secretions were ∼10% of the serum titers. Thirty-one (93%) of 34 isolates produced both proteases in vitro in comparable amounts (concentration of protease in culture supernatant: AP, 0.01–480 µg/ml; Ela, 0.02–490 µg/ml). AP and Ela were detected in vivo when antibodies to the enzymes were absent. The results suggest that specific immune responses in patients with cystic fibrosis neutralize proteases of P. aeruginosa.

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