The effect of cigarette smoke condensate on alpha 1-antitrypsin, antileukoprotease and granulocyte elastase

Unfractionated cigarette smoke condensate was found to affect 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 the smoke condensate as the inhibitors. Although the elastolytic activity was markedly reduced, the esterolytic activity was reduced to a lesser degree.