The effect of cigarette smoke condensate on a,‐antitrypsin, antileukoprotease and granulocyte elastase

Abstract

Unfractionated cigarette smoke condensate affects .alpha.1-antitrypsin and antileukoprotease, which are the dominating enzyme inhibitors in the respiratory tract. The electrophoretic and crossed-immunoelectrophoretic precipitate patterns of these inhibitors were grossly altered and their inhibiting capacity reduced in both a dose- and time-dependent way. Other plasma proteins were also affected by cigarette smoke condensate, which in high concentrations caused precipitation of most serum proteins. Human granulocyte elastase was reduced in functional activity by similar concentrations of smoke condensate as the inhibitors. Although the elastolytic activity was reduced, esterolytic activity was reduced to a lesser degree.