Journal article
Functional α1-Protease Inhibitor in the Lower Respiratory Tract of Cigarette Smokers Is Not Decreased
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.221(4616), pp.1187-1189
09/16/1983
DOI: 10.1126/science.6612333
PMID: 6612333
Abstract
Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor for the development of pulmonary emphysema, a disorder that may result from an imbalance between the elastase and antielastase levels in the lungs. Decreased functional alpha 1-protease inhibitor, an inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, might render smokers susceptible to elastase-catalyzed destruction of pulmonary elastic fibers and the development of emphysema. Binding and inactivation of isotopically labeled porcine pancreatic elastase and human neutrophil elastase by alpha 1-protease inhibitor were measured in fluid obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of volunteers. The inhibition of elastase-catalyzed solubilization of elastin and a tripeptide substrate were also determined. The mean level of functional alpha 1-protease inhibitor in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of smokers was found to be equal to or greater than that of nonsmokers, contradicting reports by other investigators. Increased elastase derived from pulmonary neutrophils, rather than decreased functional alpha 1-protease inhibitor, appears to be the main factor in the genesis of emphysema in smokers.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Functional α1-Protease Inhibitor in the Lower Respiratory Tract of Cigarette Smokers Is Not Decreased
- Creators
- P J StoneJ D CaloreS E McGowanJ BernardoG L SniderC Franzblau
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.221(4616), pp.1187-1189
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1126/science.6612333
- PMID
- 6612333
- ISSN
- 0036-8075
- eISSN
- 1095-9203
- Grant note
- HL-19717 / NHLBI NIH HHS HL-25229 / NHLBI NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/16/1983
- Academic Unit
- International Programs; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9983984530402771
Metrics
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