Purification of Human α1 Antiprotease-Pancreatic Elastase Complex. Interaction with Homologous Elastin

Abstract
A human .alpha.1-antiprotease (.alpha.1.AP)-human pancreatic elastase (HPE11) complex was isolated from plasma, or prepared from commercial .alpha.1.AP. The complex was identified and isolated by affinity chromatography, using concanavalin A or IgG anti-elastase as ligands, in association with Sephacryl gel filtration. The .alpha.1.AP-HPE11 complex was shown to bind with aorta and with purified aortic elastin. In both cases, the complex exhibited elastinolytic activity.