[Enzyme deficiency in the lymphocytes of tobacco smokers]

In the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 85 men aged 18 to 42 years, smoking cigarettes by 2 to 25 years, the intracellular enzymes activity having varying localization, has been determined by the use of semiquantitative histochemical methods. The lymphocytes from subjects smoking not more than 10 years the increased activity of acid phosphatase, leucyl aminopeptidase, and lactic dehydrogenase as well as decreased activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase has been stated. In contrast, in subjects smoking more than 10 years the intracellular activity of acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and lactic dehydrogenase in lymphocytes has been diminished. Above enzymatic deficiencies could represent the biochemical basis of functional alterations of lymphocytes from smokers observed by numerous authors.