Expression Of Anti-elastin Antibody In Guinea Pigs With Emphysema

Objective To make emphysema models through active immunization with elastin peptide andcigarette smoking in guinea pigs, and to observe the quantity of anti-elastin antibody and thedestruction of lung tissue, then to explore the influence of anti-elastin autoimmunity onemphysema.Methods The thirty English guinea pigs with short hair were randomly divided into threegroups, involving active immunization group, smoking group and control group. Elastinpeptide were subcutaneously injected at multiply points in the active immunization group andtobacco-smoking was used with the traditional method in smoking group, while Nothing wasdone in the control group. Anti-elastin antibody in blood serum and bronchoalveolar lavagefluid(BALF) were detected after 12 weeks,then morphosis of pulmonary tissue wereobserved, as well as measure mean alveolar area and mean alveolar septum thickness weremeasured.Results (1)The lung tissue of active immunization group and smoking group were damagedin some extent. Obeserved in light microscope, the alveolar wall s in active immunization groupwere thinner and broken,and bullas were emerged. Besides, a few inflammatory cells could beseen. In smoking group, the construction of alveolus was confused, and there were more bullasand inflammatory cells in the lung. (2)Compared with the control group(720.86±139.86μm~2),the mean alveolar area in active immunization group(977.70±221.69μm~2)and smoking group(1344.24±309.01μm~2)were significantly greater(P＜0.05). Contrasted with the controlgroup(3.74±1.50μm), the mean alveolar septum thickness of active immunization group(3.26±1.49μm)and smoking group(2.30±1.31μm)were thinner(P＜0.05). Furthermore,compared to smoking group, the mean alveolar area in active immunization group was smaller(P＜0.05), and the mean alveolar septum thickness was thinner(P＜0.05). (3) Compared with thecontrol group(1.29±0.46,0.25±0.14),the quantity of anti-elastin antibody in blood serum andBALF in active immunization group(2.14±0.29,1.73±0.33)and smoking group(2.14±0.29,1.73±0.33)did significantly increase(P＜0.05). The anti-elastin antibody had no differencebetween blood serum and BALF in active immunization group(P＞0.05). However, there washigher ant-elastin antibody in blood serum than BALF in smoking group(P＜0.05). The anti-elastin antibody in blood serum in between active immunization group and smoking groupwere not different(P＞0.05). The anti-elastin antibody in BALF of active immunization groupwas greater than that of smoking group(P＜0.05).ConclusionConclusions Active immunity response against elastin could promote the formation ofemphysema of guinea pigs.The quantity of anti-elastin antibody increased, and the lung tissuewas damaged in some extent in active immunization and smoking groups which showed that theantielastin autoimmunity had positive influence on emphysema.