Effects of cigarette smoke in mice with different levels of alpha(1)-proteinase inhibitor and sensitivity to oxidants

The role of strain difference in the response to cigarette smoke was Invest igated in mice. Mice of the strains DBA/2 and C57BL/6J responded to acute c igarette smoke with a decrease of the antioxidant defenses of their broncho alveolar lavage (BAL) fluids. On the other hand, under these conditions ICR mice increased their BAL antioxidant defenses. Mice of these three strains were then exposed to cigarette smoke (three cigarettes/d, 5 d/wk) for 7 mo . Lung elastin content was significantly decreased in C57BL/6J and DBA/2 bu t not in ICR mice. Also, emphysema, assessed morphometrically using three m ethods, was present in C57BL/6J and DBA/2 but not in ICR mice. In an additi onal study pallid mice, with a severe serum alpha (1)-proteinase inhibitor (alpha (1)-PI) deficiency and that develop spontaneous emphysema, were expo sed to cigarette smoke for 4 mo. This resulted in an acceleration of the de velopment of the spontaneous emphysema assessed with morphometrical and bio chemical (lung elastin content) methods. All these results indicate that se nsitivity to the effects of cigarette smoke is strain-dependent and cigaret te smoke accelerates the effects of alpha (1)-PI deficiency.