HUMAN-LUNG LYSOZYME - SOURCES AND PROPERTIES

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Abstract
Isolated surface epithelium, submucosal tissue containing glands from human trachea and pulmonary alveolar macrophages from lavage of healthy human subjects were maintained separately in vitro for 24-48 h. Bathing medium and tissues were analyzed for lysozyme content. The tracheal tissues secreted 807 .+-. 369 .mu.g of lysozyme/g of tissues per 24 h, .apprx. 20% of which was secreted by surface epithelium. Pulmonary alveolar macrophages secreted 5.6 .+-. 3.3 .mu.g of lysozyme/106 of cells per 24 h. In each case the amount of lysozyme released during culture exceeded the original intracellular content. Lysozyme from tracheal tissue could not be distinguished from human milk lysozyme by electrophoretic, specific activity or immunologic criteria. Human trachea and pulmonary alveolar macrophages secreted antigenically identical lysozyme. Apparently, surface epithelium, the glands of large airways and pulmonary alveolar macrophages in human lungs synthesize and release a single molecular species of lysozyme. This lysozyme appears to be identical to human lysozyme of nonpulmonary origins.