POSSIBLE MECHANISMS OF EMPHYSEMA IN SMOKERS - INVITRO SUPPRESSION OF SERUM ELASTASE INHIBITORY CAPACITY BY FRESH CIGARETTE-SMOKE AND ITS PREVENTION BY ANTIOXIDANTS

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Abstract
Freshly prepared, aqueous solutions of cigarette smoke suppressed the elastase-inhibitory capacity of human serum. Immunoelectrophoresis of mixtures of aqueous smoke solution, human serum and pancreatic elastase showed decreased elastase/.alpha.1-proteinase complexes and increased free, active protease. Phenolic antioxidants prevented the suppression of serum elastase-inhibition by cigarette smoke. By contrast, treatment of serum with model oxidants caused a similar suppression of elastase inhibition. Emphysema in cigarette smokers might be due to local suppression of .alpha.1-proteinase inhibitor in lung by oxidizing agents present in cigarette smoke.