Elastin content of normal and emphysematous lung parenchyma

doi:10.1016/0002-9343(80)90004-2

The American Journal of Medicine

Volume 69, Issue 3, September 1980, Pages 351-359

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(80)90004-2 Get rights and content

Abstract

Elastin destruction has been recognized as a crucial factor in the development of experimental pulmonary emphysema. However, no consistent alterations in lung elastin have as yet been demonstrated in human subjects with diffuse panacinar emphysema. In this study elastin content was measured in pulmonary parenchyma obtained by surgical biopsy and postmortem from eight patients with clinical, physiologic and morphologic criteria for panacinar emphysema, and postmortem from six normal adults. Concentrations of the elastin-specific amino acids, desmosine and isodesmosine, were determined both in the crude connective tissue of lung parenchyma and separately in elastin isolated by a modification of the Lansing method. Elastin proportions were then expressed as percent of lung parenchymal crude connective tissue. In lungs of six normal control subjects mean elastin was 30.5 percent standard deviation (SD) ± 3.69 (range 25.1 to 35.0 percent). In five patients the proportions of lung elastin were all below control: mean 12.1 percent SD ± 3.7 (range 9.0 to 17.5 percent). Three patients of this group had Pi phenotype MM; one had ZZ and one had MZ. In three additional patients (one with Pi MZ; two with Pi MM), all of whom had received glucocorticoid therapy (21 months to nine years), elastin proportions were similar to those observed in normal subjects: mean 36.8 percent SD ± 5.98 (range 31.7 to 43.4 percent). The amino acid composition of isolated elastin did not differ significantly between any of the groups. Results demonstrate reduced proportions of lung elastin in pulmonary emphysema except in patients treated with glucocorticoids which may decrease collagen synthesis and increase the relative proportions of elastin.

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^☆: This work was supported by Grants from the National Institutes of Health NHLBI HL15832, The New York Lung Association and the Stony Wold-Herbert Fund.

¹: From the Departments of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.

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Clinical studyElastin content of normal and emphysematous lung parenchyma☆

Abstract

The determination of collagen and elastin in tissues with results obtained in various normal tissues from different species

J Biol Chem

Studies on the collagen and elastin content of human lungs

J Clin Invest

The elastin and collagen content of normal and emphysematous human lungs (abstract)

Am Rev Respir Dis

The elastin content of lung in relation to age

Ital J Biochem

Studies on human pulmonary connective tissue. 1. Amino acid composition of elastin isolated by alkaline digestion

J Lab Clin Med

Lung scleroproteins in age and emphysema

Chest

Elastic tissue of normal and emphysematous lungs. A tridimensional histologic study

Am J Pathol

Experimental emphysema in rats: elastolytic titer of inducing enzyme as determinant of response

Relationship between elastolytic activity and experimental emphysema-inducing properties of papain preparations

Am Rev Respir Dis

Effects of elastase, collagenase and papain on structure and function of rat lungs in vitro

J Clin Invest

The connective tissue basis of pulmonary mechanics

“In Vitro” effects of elastase and collagenase on mechanical properties of hamster lungs

Am Rev Respir Dis

Elastin degradation in human and experimental emphysema

The induction of emphysema with elastase. II. Changes in connective tissue

Lab Invest

The collagen and elastin content of the lung in emphysema

Ann Intern Med

Studies of human pulmonary connective tissue. Chemical changes in structural proteins with emphysema

Am Rev Respir Dis

Clinical study
Elastin content of normal and emphysematous lung parenchyma☆