• 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 7  (1) , 49-54
Abstract
Free human collagenase activity was demonstrated in all 13 normal, 5 osteoarthrotic and 54 rheumatoid synovial fluids studied. Osteoarthrotic, normal and rheumatoid fluids showed a free collagenase content increasing in that order. The total activities after trypsin activation did not differ significantly. The concentrations of .alpha.1-at [.alpha.1-antitrypsin] and .alpha.2-M [.alpha.2-macroglobulin] in synovial fluids reflected those in sera. The complex interactions between serum inhibitors, and free or latent collagenase released from both synovial cells and leukocytes are discussed.