Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are one of the main sources of enzymes responsible for tissue damage in inflammatory processes. These enzymes are stored in two types of cytoplasmic granules. Azurophil granules contain lysosomal hydrolases, neutral serine proteinases, and bactericidal elements (myeloperoxidase and lysozyme). Specific granules contain collagenase, lysozyme and lactoferrin but lack lysosomal hydrolases. PMNs store all four classes of tissue proteinases, carboxyl, thiol and serine proteinases in the azurophil granules, and metallo proteinases in the specific granules. Three serine proteinases have been identified, elastase, cathepsin G and a third enzyme, which together account for a large proportion of the protein of the azurophil granules. In the course of phagocytic events, all these enzymes are released extracellularly. The neutral proteinases degrade proteoglycans and collagen. In vitro, they stimulate B-lymphocytes, which suggests that they may have immuno-potentiating activity when they are released at sites of chronic inflammation.
