Quantitative study of human blood alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin and inter-alpha-trypsin-inhibitor with respect to plasma renin activity

Three blood protease inhibitors were immunochemically quantitated in normo- and hypertensive subjects divided according to their plasma renin activity. As inflammatory reactions could be suspected in many subjects, the inflammatory state was estimated on the basis of three acute phase reactants and allowed one to conclude that total inter-alpha-trypsin-inhibitor and inter-alpha-trypsin-inhibitor derivative, as well as alpha-1-antitrypsin levels were increased in inflammation. Involvement of either protease inhibitor tested in the control of plasma renin activity is unlikely as no relationship between plasma renin activity and protease inhibitor levels could be demonstrated in non-inflammatory conditions. Finally, there was no particular distribution of alpha-1-antitrypsin (PI) phenotypes in the overall population.