在上一篇论文(Starkey&Barrett,1976a)中,描述了人脾脏对两个中性蛋白酶的纯化。这些酶之一是针对弹性蛋白的活性,因此被认为是一种弹性酶。本文中描述的证据表明,这是人类嗜中性粒细胞的溶酶体(Azurophil)颗粒的合并的弹性蛋白酶(Dewald等,1975)。There is much interest in the possibility that this enzyme may play a part in such important physio- logical processes as the digestion of bacteria by phagocytes (Janoff & Blondin, 1973), the degradation of elastin in the arterial wall and emphysematous lung, the degradation of kidney basement membrane in glomerulonephritis, and the destruction of the articular类风湿关节炎中的软骨(Janoff,1972a)。在本文中,我们描述了溶酶体弹性酶的某些特性,并将其与猪泛菌的特征弹性酶进行比较。