Investigations into the biochemical mechanisms of pulmonary emphysema: effects of cigarette smoke on enzymes and anti-enzymes in the lung.
The mechanism(s) causing emphysema in the cigarette smoker are still poorly understood. However, circumstantial evidence is beginning to provide a tenuous link between smoking and the protease-antiprotease imbalance hypothesis. Independent effects on elastin synthesis may also be important. This triad of chemical and cellular events (leukocyte recruitment, inhibitor inactivation, depressed tissue repair) constitutes a reasonable first approximation from which to approach this complex question.
D000818:Animals; D003167:Complement Activation; D004549:Elastin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000201:enzymology*; D012907:Smoking
D004549:Elastin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase