T-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTOR IMMUNE-COMPLEXES DEMONSTRATING BIOLOGIC AND PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY

An elastase-like protease, recently recognized as a specific product of murine T cells, may functionally associate with the classical TCR. T cell elastase, found in combination with the natural elastase inhibitor alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1-protease inhibitor, alpha1-PI), is produced by both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. T cell elastase and alpha1-PI are found chemically associated with the TCR in an antigen-specific complex reminiscent of the Ig-complement 'immune complexes'.