Localization of chymotrypsin-like cationic protein, collagenase and elastase in azurophil granules of human neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The subcellular localization of granulocyte collagenase, elastase and chymotrypsin-like cationic protein was determined using velocity centrifugation of cytoplasmic granules of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The proteases were assayed by immunochemical and enzymatic methods. Measurements of lactoferrin and myeloperoxidase distinguish exactly between constituents of specific and azurophil granules. Collagenase, elastase and chymotrypsin-like cationic proteins showed an almost identical sharp and unimodal distribution. They co-sedimented with myeloperoxidase demonstrating that these enzymes are localized exclusively in the azurophil granules.