ABSTRACT
Granulocyte proteases may enhance fibrinolytic activity in a nonplasmin-dependent way, influence the platelet reactions, and damage the proteins of coagulation. A considerably high proteolytic activity is accumulated in the lyososomes of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Under physiological conditions, lysosomal proteases participate in the phagocytic activity of leukocytes. Granulocyte proteases participate in the development of various disease states. By damaging cartilage proteoglycan they play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. When the inhibitor capacity of blood becomes exhausted or considerably decreased, granulocyte proteases can readily attack plasma proteins, thus clotting factors as well. Granulocyte proteases independent of plasmin may increase the fibrinolytic activity of blood. During coagulation elastase is released from leukocytes and able to degrade fibrinogen. At present it is difficult to tell what mechanism might be responsible for the calcium-induced proteolytic resistance of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.
