Comparative studies of the elastin content of normal and emphysematous human lungs with special regard to antitrypsin deficiency.

The elastin content and the amino acid composition of elastin in emphysematous and healthy control lung tissues were comparatively studied. Decreased lung elastin content was found in the emphysematous patients of both normal and reduced trypsin inhibitor activity compared to normal control subjects. In the emphysematous patients with reduced inhibitor level a more significantly decreased elastin level was found than in those emphysematous patients with normal inhibitor level. There was no difference between the two groups in either the amino acid composition of elastin or the ratio of nonpolar to polar amino acid components. There was no significant correlation demonstrable between the age and the elastin content of the lung. This applied to the control group as well as to the emphysematous patients with normal trypsin inhibitor activity. The results indicate that no genetically abnormal pulmonary elastin structure is a predisposing risk factor but the reduced elastin content induced by elastase enzymes leading to changed mechanical properties is responsible for the development of pulmonary emphysema.

Protective effect of specific elastase inhibitor in experimental pulmonary emphysema.

The inhibitory effect of synthetic elastase inhibitor was studied in experimental emphysema. The development of emphysema was totally prevented by this substance. According to the authors' opinion the administration of synthetic elastase inhibitors can be considered as a new possibility in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema.

Prevention of elastase-induced emphysema by aerosol administration of a specific synthetic elastase inhibitor.

The effect of a synthetic elastase inhibitor was studied in experimental emphysema. The development of emphysema was totally prevented by this material. In the authors' opinion the administration of synthetic elastase inhibitors can be considered as a new possibility in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema.

Experimental pulmonary emphysema: its induction in rats by leuko-elastase extracted from purulent sputum.

Pulmonary emphysema was induced in rats by leuko-elastase extracted from purulent sputum, with the aim of throwing light on the part played by the elastolytic activity in the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema. A brief review of the pertaining literature is presented.

A novel method for the purification of 15-hydroxy-prostaglandin-dehydrogenase from swine lungs.

15-Hydroxy-prostaglandin-dehydrogenase was purified 3 to 5 fold and with almost 100% yield from swine lungs by a novel method of precipitation with Rivanol after which it was further purified (8-10 fold) by gel-filtration. The optimal stability parameters of the purified enzyme preparation were determined and the behaviour of PGDH in polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis was studied by local enzyme detection. The enzyme seems to be composed of subunits. KM values of PGDH with respect to NAD, PGE2 and PGF2alpha were found to be 0.27, 0.017 and 0.038 mM, respectively.

Inhibition of thrombin and trypsin by tripeptide aldehydes.

Inhibitory effects of certain tripeptide aldehydes on both thrombin and trypsin have been found to be strongly substrate-dependent. These compounds should therefore be considered as inhibitors of the particular proteolytic reaction for which they had been designed rather than real enzyme inhibitors, i.e. protein or polypeptide proteinase inhibitors of natural origin.