Serum albumin, serum antiproteases and polymorphonuclear leucocyte neutral collagenolytic protease in the tear fluid of normal healthy persons.

Using a micro-electroimmune assay and a 'non-reflex stimulating' method to collect normal tear fluid, the concentration of the serum proteins albumin (S-A), alfa-1-antitrypsin (alpha 1A), alfa-1-antichymotrypsin (alpha 1X) and alfa-2-macroglobulin (alpha 1M) was determined in the tear fluid of 53 normal persons. In addition, the tear fluid was tested for the content of polymorphonuclear leucocyte neutral collagenolytic protease (PML-c-ase). PML-c-ase and alpha 1X could not be detected in any tear samples. The concentrations of S-A, alpha 1A and alpha 1M were constant over time, and showed no variation with sex, age or between the right and left eyes. There was no correlation between the concentration levels of the detected proteins in the tear fluid and correlation between tear fluid levels and corresponding serum concentration levels of the proteins could not be shown.