Journal of Atherosclerosis Research
Volume 10, Issue 3 , Pages 379-390, November 1969

Human pancreatic elastolytic enzymes and atherosclerosis and lung emphysema in elderly people*

Gerontology Research Center, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, PHS, U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Baltimore, Md. 21224 (U.S.A.)

Baltimore City Hospitals, Baltimore, Md. 21224 (U.S.A.)

Received 3 July 1969; received in revised form 3 July 1969

Summary 

In previous papers the present author had put forward the hypothesis that elastolytic enzymes play a role in the formation of fibrous plaques (atherosclerotic lesions of grade 2). In order to get more information about the relationship between the concentrations of pancreatic elastoproteinase and elastomucases and the degree of atherosclerosis and senile lung emphysema, more data of necropsied individuals over 50 years of age were collected.

The data clearly demonstrate a high correlation between increased levels of elastolytic enzymes in the pancreas and those stages of atherogenesis and lung emphysema in which metabolic changes in the connective tissue components take place. Since the process of elevated enzyme production in the pancreas seems to precede the formation of severe atherosclerotic lesions, no correlation was found between pancreatic enzyme levels and the severity or complications of atherosclerosis.

The age relationship of pancreatic enzyme production and the influence of elastolytic enzymes on the occurrence of myocardial infarction, as suggested by some authors, still remains unclear.

Key words: Aneurysms, Atherosclerosis, Elastomucase, Elastoproteinase, Lung emphysema, Myocardial infarction

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* Part of the experiments described in this paper were performed when the author was Acting Chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Physics, Netherland Institute for Preventive Medicine, Leiden, The Netherlands.

PII: S0368-1319(69)80041-4

Journal of Atherosclerosis Research
Volume 10, Issue 3 , Pages 379-390, November 1969

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