The Physiological Significance of the Reaction between Elastin and Elastomucase in Relation to the Production of “Clearing Factor”

Abstract

The products of the interaction of elasto-mucase active elastase and its substrate interact with a factor of the [alpha]1 + [alpha]2 globulin fraction of serum to form a complex which is capable of diminishing the opacity of lipemic serum as well as degrading neutral lipid deposits in normal connective tissue as well as atheromatous tissue. In old age, elastase and sulphated polysaccharides are reduced in amount thus altering the lipid metabolism and leading to lipid deposition. An electron microscope method for studying tissue lipid particles of one half micron size is described.