Alpha-1-antitrypsin levels and genetic variation of the alpha-1-antitrypsin gene in Peyronie's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha1-antitrypsin) is a major protease inhibitor controlling tissue degradation. Reduced alpha1-antitrypsin levels could result in a change of collagen metabolism. Previous studies have described decreased alpha1-antitrypsin levels in patients with Peyronie's disease. However, only a small number of patients were analyzed, and the reason for the decreased alpha1-antitrypsin levels remained unclear. This study investigated prospectively the levels of alpha1-antitrypsin in patients with Peyronie's disease, as well as genetic variation in the coding region of the alpha1-antitrypsin gene.


METHODS
Alpha1-antitrypsin levels were determined prospectively in 94 patients with Peyronie's disease and compared to healthy controls. Analysis of the alpha1-antitrypsin gene (S, Z variants; single nucleotid polymorphisms [SNPs]: T-395A, M2, M3, G6118A) was done in 141 Peyronie's patients including 43 patients with investigated alpha1-antitrypsin serum levels and compared to healthy controls.


RESULTS
In patients with Peyronie's disease, the alpha1-antitrypsin levels seemed to be decreased significantly compared to healthy controls. However, in the age matched approach no significant differences occurred. Moreover, a significant (p < 0.002) decrease of the alpha1-antitrypsin level with increasing age was observed, explaining the initial differences between the two groups. In confirmation with these findings, no significant association of the alpha1-antitrypsin gene variants with Peyronie's disease was detectable.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study do not indicate a significant association between Peyronie's disease and decreased alpha1-antitrypsin levels. Low alpha1-antitrypsin levels in Peyronie's patients are, rather, an age-related phenomenon, as revealed by the comparison with aged matched healthy controls. The decrease of the alpha1-antitrypsin serum level with increasing age has not been described before.
Department of Urology, Justus Liebig University, Rudolf-Buchheim-Str. 7, D-35385 Giessen, Germany.
Ekkehard W
EW
Hauck
Arne
A
Hauptmann
Simone M
SM
Haag
Anette
A
Bohnert
Wolfgang
W
Weidner
Gregor
G
Bein
Holger
H
Hackstein
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism