Elastase Activity in Cigarette Smokers
Authors: RAJA T. ABBOUD
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1988)

Letters and Corrections1 March 1988Elastase Activity in Cigarette SmokersRAJA T. ABBOUD, M.D., THARWAT T. FERA, M.D.RAJA T. ABBOUD, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, THARWAT T. FERA, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-108-3-486 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: Weitz and associates (1) report increased elastase activity in smokers, as shown by a fivefold increase in plasma levels of the neutrophil elastase-derived fibrinopeptide A-alpha-1-21 in cigarette smokers compared with nonsmokers. The authors also reported a twofold elevation in plasma levels of the fibrinopeptide in cigarette smokers who had refrained from smoking for 12 hours, and then smoked three cigarettes.Weitz and associates refer to studies on the effect of smoking on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (2-5); however, these studies report the activity of the elastase inhibitor alpha-1-antiprotease, but not neutrophil elastase activity or levels. Additional studies have...References1. WEITZ J, CROWLEY K, LANDMAN S, LIPMAN B, and YU J. Increased neutrophil elastase activity in cigarette smokers. Ann Intern Med. 1987;107:680-2. LinkGoogle Scholar2. GADEK J, FELLS C, and CRYSTAL R. Cigarette smoking induces functional antiprotease deficiency in the lower respiratory tract of humans. Science. 1979;206:1315-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. CARP H, MILLER F, HOIDAL J, and JANOFF A. Potential mechanism of emphysema: alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor purified from lungs of cigarette smokers contains oxidized methionine and has decreased elastase inhibitory capacity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1982;79:2041-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. STONE P, CALORE J, MCGOWAN S, BERNARDO J, SNIDER G, and FRANZBLAU C. Functional alpha-1-protease inhibitor in the lower respiratory tract of cigarette smokers is not decreased. Science. 1983;221:1187-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. ABBOUD R, FERA T, RICHTER A, TABONA M, and JOHAL S. Acute effect of smoking on the functional activity of alpha-1-protease inhibitor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985;131:79-85. MedlineGoogle Scholar6. JANOFF A, RAJU L, and DEARING R. Levels of elastase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of healthy smokers and nonsmokers. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983;127:540-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. NIEDERMAN M, FRITTS L, and MERRILL W. Demonstration of a free elastolytic metalloenzyme in human lung lavage fluid and its relationship to alpha1-antiprotease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984;129:943-7. MedlineGoogle Scholar8. FERA T, ABBOUD R, RICHTER A, and JOHAL S. Acute effect of smoking on elastaselike esterase activity and immunologic neutrophil elastase levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986;133:568-73. MedlineGoogle Scholar9. ABBOUD R, FERA T, JOHAL S, RICHTER A, and GIBSON N. Effect of smoking on plasma neutrophil elastase levels. J Lab Clin Med. 1986;108:294-300. MedlineGoogle Scholar1. WEITZ J, CROWLEY K, LANDMAN S, and LIPMAN B. Increased neutrophil elastase activity in cigarette smokers. Ann Intern Med. 1987;107:680-2. LinkGoogle Scholar2. WEWERS M and GADEK J. The protease theory of emphysema. Ann Intern Med. 1987;107:761-3. LinkGoogle Scholar3. Samuel Johnson's Emphysema. In: A Short History of Medicine. London: Oxford University Press; 1928. Google Scholar4. RACKEMAN R. A clinical study of six hundred and eighty-eight cases of bronchial asthma. N Engl J Med. 1952;246:815. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. FORGACS P. Crackles and wheezes. Lancet. 1967;28:203-5. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. PETTY T. Why not treat emphysema when it first begins? J Resp Dis. 1980;33-9. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: RAJA T. ABBOUD, M.D.; THARWAT T. FERA, M.D.Affiliations: Vancouver General Hospital Vancouver, B.C. Canada PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byMultifocal Atrial Tachycardia 1 March 1988Volume 108, Issue 3Page: 486-487KeywordsBlood plasmaBronchoalveolar lavageNeutrophils ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 March 1988 PDF downloadLoading ...