Immunochemical Studies of Elastase and Antielastase

In quantitative precipitin studies with elastase and antielastase serum, the maximum amount of precipitate developed in the region of slight antigen excess. With a greater excess of elastase, soluble complexes were formed. Studies on the inhibition of the enzymatic activity of elastase were conducted with antielastase γ-globulin using elastolysis as an index of enzymatic activity. The antigen-antibody precipitates were completely inert; the elastolytic activity of the supernatants was inversely proportional to the amount of antielastase γ-globulin used.