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Binding sites for elastase on cultured human fibroblasts that do not mediate internalization

The proteolytic actions of elastases have been implicated in extracellular matrix damage, which is characteristic of a variety of pathological conditions including emphysema and rheumatoid arthritis. In order to elucidate the molecular events involved in elastase interaction with connective tissue cells, the present study was designed to investigate the association of elastase with human fibroblasts at 4°C. Elastase bound saturably to binding sites that were present on the surface of these cells. Analysis of cell‐bound elastase by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of a high molecular weight complex (Mr 54,000) that was not formed with elastase whose catalytic site serine was derivatized with a diisopropylphosphate group. The complex did not represent elastase bound to either protease nexin or contaminating serum. The cellular component with which elastase formed a complex could not be detected in the cell culture medium. Unexpectedly, elastase that had been pre‐bound at 4°C was not internalized after cells were warmed to 37°C. The elastase binding site described in this report is therefore distinct from high affinity binding sites involved in receptor‐mediated endocytosis and intracellular degradation.