Possible mechanisms of emphysema in cigarette smokers. Release of elastase from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by cigarette smoke condensate in vitro.

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, when incubated in vitro with cigarette smoke condensate, release beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase, and elastase and fail to exclude trypan blue. The released elastase is active on an elastin substrate even in the continuing presence of cigarette smoke condensate. When mixtures of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and cigarette smoke condensate are instilled into rat lungs in vivo, the elastase is also released and can be traced to conneective tissue targets by immunohistochemical and enzyme-histochemical techniques.