Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 59, Issue 1 96-100, Copyright © 1985 by American Physiological Society
Effects of elastase and cigarette smoke on alveolar epithelial permeability
R. P. Schmid, D. Wangensteen, J. Hoidal, B. Gosnell and D. Niewoehner
To determine whether instilled porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) increases
alveolar epithelial permeability, we measured alveolar epithelium
permeability X surface area (PS) for [14C]sucrose and 125I-bovine serum
albumin (125I-BSA) in isolated perfused lungs from hamsters previously
exposed to PPE and/or cigarette smoke. Saline (0.5 ml) with 0, 5, or 20
units PPE was instilled intratracheally in anesthetized hamsters. Those
exposed to smoke for 4-6 wk received 0 or 5 units; PS was measured 3 h
later. Nonsmokers received 0, 5, or 20 units; PS was measured 3 h, 24 h, or
5 days later. Control PS values were (cm3/s X 10(-4), +/- SE) 0.84 +/- 0.11
for sucrose and 0.030 +/- 0.006 for BSA. Three and 24 h following 20 units
PPE, (PS)sucrose was twice the control valve. (PS)BSA was four times
control at 3 h but not significantly increased at 24 h. Five days after PPE
both were back to control levels. Five units PPE or smoke exposure alone
caused no PS changes. Smoke exposure and 5 units PPE caused (PS)sucrose to
increase markedly (1.85 +/- 0.32); (PS)BSA was not significantly increased
(0.076 +/- 0.026). Thus instilled PPE causes reversible increases in
alveolar epithelial PS; cigarette smoking potentiates this effect.
