The role of free radicals and neutrophil elastase in development of pulmonary emphysema.
Extracellular proteolysis is hypothesized to be the major cause of pulmonary emphysema and oxygen-derived free radicals and neutrophil elastase are thought to play an important role in its pathogenesis. In this study, peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) obtained from 16 patients with emphysema generated a significantly larger amount of superoxide and elastase activity than those obtained from normal controls. A significant correlation was observed between elastase activity and superoxide release. In addition, the superoxide release showed a negative correlation with the disease duration. The superoxide release appeared to correlated with a decline of FEV1.0 over the course of several years in 8 patients. It seems likely that activated PMNs play an important role in the development of pulmonary emphysema.
Kanazawa
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
Kurihara
N
N
Hirata
K
K
Fujimoto
S
S
Takeda
T
T
D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016897:Respiratory Burst; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood*
D005609:Free Radicals; D013481:Superoxides; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase