Skip to main content
Download PDF

Elevated serum neutrophil elastase is related to prehypertension and airflow limitation in obese women

BMC Women's Health volume 11, Article number: 1 (2011) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Neutrophil elastase level/activity is elevated in a variety of diseases such as atherosclerosis, systolic hypertension and obstructive pulmonary disease. It is unknown whether obese individuals with prehypertension also have elevated neutrophil elastase, and if so, whether it has a deleterious effect on pulmonary function. Objectives: To determine neutrophil elastase levels in obese prehypertensive women and investigate correlations with pulmonary function tests.

Methods

Thirty obese prehypertensive women were compared with 30 obese normotensive subjects and 30 healthy controls. The study groups were matched for age. Measurements: The following were determined: body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum neutrophil elastase, and pulmonary function tests including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC ratio.

Results

Serum neutrophil elastase concentration was significantly higher in both prehypertensive (405.8 ± 111.6 ng/ml) and normotensive (336.5 ± 81.5 ng/ml) obese women than in control non-obese women (243.9 ± 23.9 ng/ml); the level was significantly higher in the prehypertensive than the normotensive obese women. FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio in both prehypertensive and normotensive obese women were significantly lower than in normal controls, but there was no statistically significant difference between the prehypertensive and normotensive obese women. In prehypertensive obese women, there were significant positive correlations between neutrophil elastase and body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and negative correlations with high density lipoprotein cholesterol, FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC.

Conclusion

Neutrophil elastase concentration is elevated in obese prehypertensive women along with an increase in high sensitivity C-reactive protein which may account for dyslipidemia and airflow dysfunction in the present study population.

Peer Review reports

Background

The seventh report of the Joint National Committee (JNC-7) proposed a new classification distinguishing between individuals with normal blood pressure and established hypertension. The report categorized people with systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 mm Hg as having 'prehypertension' [1]. Data from the 1999 and 2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) suggested that the prevalence of prehypertension among adults in the United States was approximately 31% [2]. Prehypertension is a risk factor for overt hypertension [3] and future cardiovascular disease events [4]. Prospective observational studies suggest the risk of cardiovascular death begins at 115/75 mm Hg and doubles for every 20/10 mm Hg increment in a linear fashion [5].

Leukoprotease activity was first described early in the 20th century but human neutrophil elastase (NE) was only identified relatively recently [6]. Intracellular NE is a key effector molecule of the innate immune system, with potent antimicrobial activity against Gram negative bacteria [7], spirochetes [8] and fungi [9]. Its best-known extracellular manifestation is connective tissue digestion. NE is capable of digesting virtually every type of matrix protein, including elastin [10]. Because of its unique elastic recoil properties, elastin is vital for conferring elasticity on arteries, lungs, ligaments and skin [11]. Biologically, NE is considered a secretagouge for cytokines [12] and a modulator of inflammation [13]. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is the major specific inhibitor for NE [14]. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is an acute phase protein derived from liver and its concentration rises during inflammation; it inhibits NE to prevent tissue injury in target organs [15]. Other protease inhibitors ordinarily present in human serum are α1-antichymotrypsin and α2-macroglobulin [16].

Elevation of NE levels/activity has been demonstrated in a variety of pathological conditions including cystic fibrosis [17], acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [18], type2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis [19], aortic stiffness and systolic hypertension [20]. Such changes have been explained by a possible protease/anti-protease imbalance. This imbalance might be due to an increased elastase load following neutrophil influx, a reduction in the levels or activity of the circulating inhibitors of this enzyme, or increased non-apoptotic neutrophil death [21].

It is unknown whether obese individuals with prehypertension also have elevated NE, and if so, whether it has a deleterious effect on pulmonary function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the level of serum elastase in obese prehypertensive women and to investigate correlations with pulmonary function tests.

Methods

Ninety females were enrolled in the study, divided into three groups (Table 1). Group 1 included 30 obese prehypertensive women. Group 2 included 30 obese normotensive women. Group 3 included 30 non-obese, age-matched normotensive women (control group). The mean ages were 33.5 ± 7.7, 34.4 ± 9 and 36.5 ± 5.2, respectively. The obese patients were attending obesity clinics at the Specialized Medical Hospital. All patients signed an informed consent to be included in our study. The study was approved by the local ethical committee of Mansoura University Hospital, Internal Medicine Department

Table 1 Subjects characteristics
Full size table

Blood pressure was categorized according to the JNC-7 (1). Normal blood pressure was defined as not being on antihypertensive medication and having systolic blood pressure less than 120 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure less than 80 mm Hg. Prehypertension was defined as not being on antihypertensive medication and having a systolic blood pressure of 120-139 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure of 80-89 mm Hg on three occasions. Blood pressure was taken in the sitting position after 10 min rest using a random-zero sphygmomanometer.

All participants were subjected to thorough medical history and clinical examination, and anthropometric measurements were performed as follows: height was measured to the nearest 0.5 cm; body weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg; body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight/height2(kg/m2). Waist circumference (WC) was measured at the highest point of the iliac crest.

Assay

Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were assayed by commercially available kits. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) was calculated according to Friedewald et al. [22]. Serum elastase was measured by ELISA, supplied by Immunodiagnostic AG Stubenwald-Allee 8 Ad-64625 Bensheims, according to Oremek etal. [23]. High sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) was estimated using an immunoenzymometric assay supplied by Monobind Inc., Lake Forest, CA 92630 USA, according to Kimberly et al. [24].

Pulmonary Function Tests

Spirometry was performed according to the criteria of the ATS using a computerized spirometery apparatus (Jager Spirometery), and the following parameters were determined: forced vital capacity (%FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (%FEV1), and FEV1/FVC ratio [25].

Statistics

Excel and SPSS packages version 10 (spss, inc., Chicago, IL, USA) were used for the statistical analysis of data. The data were expressed as mean (±) SD for continuous data and frequency and proportion for categorical data. For continuous data, Student's t-test was used to compare two groups. A chi square test was used to compare categorical data. Correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate associations between variables. P value = 0.05 was considered as significant at a 95% confidence interval.

Results

Baseline characteristics of the three groups are given in Table 1. Obese prehypertensive women (group 1) had significantly higher BMI, WC, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hs-CRP, TC, TG and LDL than groups 2 and 3. HDL-c was significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3. Obese normotensive women had significantly higher BMI, WC, hs-CRP, TC, TG and LDL-c than normal controls. HDL-c was significantly lower in group 2 than group 3. Eighty percent of obese prehypertensive women had positive family histories of hypertension, 50% in group 2 and 23% in group 3.

Serum elastase levels were significantly higher in group 1 (405.8 ± 111.6 ng/ml) than groups 2 (336.5 ± 81.5 ng/ml) and 3 (243.9 ± 23.9 ng/ml), p = 0.008 and p < 0.001 respectively. They were also higher in group 2 than group 3 (p = 0.001) (Figure1).

Figure 1
figure 1

Serum elastase in the studied groups. ** p < 0.01 *** p < 0.001 GP1: obese prehypertensive women GP2: obese normotensive women.

Full size image

FEV1 and FVC were significantly lower in group 1 (84.6 ± 6; 75.6 ± .4.1) and group 2 (86.6 ± 6.9; 76.2 ± 6.5) than group 3 (91 ± 3.4, 93.4 ± 3.6) but there was no statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.08, p = 0.7, respectively). The FEV1/FVC ratio was significantly lower in group 1 (77.7 ± 8.6) and group 2 (79.4 ± 11) than group 3 (87.8 ± 2.7) but this reduction did not reach the obstructive limit (< 70%). There was no significant difference in FEV1/FVC between groups 1 and 2, p = 0.51 (Table 2).

Table 2 Pulmonary function in the three groups
Full size table

The correlations between serum elastase level and other parameters in group 1 are shown in Table 3. The serum elastase levels were positively correlated with BMI, WC, SBP, DBP, TC, TG (r = 0.62, p = 0.009), LDL-c and hs-CRP (r = 0.7, p < 0.001), and negatively correlated with HDL, FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC.

Table 3 Correlation between serum elastase and clinical and metabolic parameters in obese prehypertensive women
Full size table

Discussion

There are clear epidemiological links between obesity and hypertension; obesity is probably the most important modifiable risk factor contributing to hypertension [26]. Weight gain after age 20 substantially increases the risk for prehypertension in non-hypertensive individuals, while weight loss significantly lowers the risk [27]. With respect to specific risk factors, the risk ratio for obesity is greater in prehypertensive than normotensive subjects [28, 29]. Interestingly, a recent large-scale population-based study demonstrated that abdominal obesity was the strongest independent predictor of lung function impairment [30].

The current study examined, for the first time, the relationship between serum elastase and prehypertension in obese women and correlated its level with pulmonary function tests. The main finding was that the serum elastase level was significantly higher in obese prehypertensive women than obese normotensive women and normal controls.

These results parallel those of Niccoloff and Christova [31], who found significant elevation of elastin-derived protein (EDP) in obese hypertensive children with a family history of arterial hypertension, and the level was significantly higher than in obese non-hypertensive children with a family history of hypertension, obese non-hypertensive children without family history of hypertension, and healthy non-obese children. Obese non-hypertensive children with a family history of hypertension had significantly higher EDP than controls, whereas obese non-hypertensive children with no family history of arterial hypertension did not differ from controls. Also, using microangiopathy, Nicooloff et al. [32] found significantly higher concentrations of elastin peptides in obese hypertensive children and diabetic children than in controls. Piwowar et al. [33] demonstrated significantly higher plasma elastase in obese diabetic patients than in lean ones. In contrast, Adeyemi et al. [34] found that the plasma elastase levels (determined by ELISA) in obese individuals did not differ significantly from those in lean healthy controls.

Experimental models of hypertension in animals suggest that enhanced mechanical stress induced by acutely raising blood pressure increases the synthesis of elastin and collagen in arteries, and this in turn elevates the synthesis of matrix metalloprotinase-9 [35]. Arterial hypertension is connected with the loss of elasticity, increasing rigidity of the arterial wall and an abnormal increase in collagen/elastin degradation in obese patients with arterial hypertension [31].

A major mechanism responsible for obesity-associated hypertension is inflammation; this increases insulin resistance, which in turn leads to obesity while perpetuating diabetes, high BP, and dyslipidemia [36]. Abnormalities in circulating markers of inflammation, such as CRPs, interleukin-6 and TNF-α are more common in prehypertension than normotension [37, 38]. Mania et al. [39] speculated that elastase may be used as a non-specific indicator to screen inflammation and infection. Cardiovascular complications of obesity are associated with elevated degradation of elastic tissue [40]. It can be inferred that proteolytic enzymes are actively involved in the remodeling of vessel walls, causing stiffness in them and contributing to the development of hypertension [41]. Degradation of elastin by elastases leads to the generation of elastin fragments, designated 'elastokines' in keeping with their cytokine-like properties. Generation of elastokines from one of the longest-lived proteins in humans might represent a strong tissue repair signal. Indeed, they exhibit potent chemotactic activity for leukocytes, stimulate fibroblast and smooth muscle cell proliferation, and display as potent a proangiogenic activity as vascular endothelial growth factor. These elastin fragments can also polarize lymphocytes towards a Th-1 response or induce an osteogenic response in smooth muscle cells, and arterial wall calcification [42].

In the present study, FEV1 and FVC were significantly lower in both obese prehypertensive and obese normotensive women than in normal controls, but there was no statistically significant difference between the prehypertensive obese patients and normotensive obese subjects. These results are consistent with those of Lazarus et al. [43] who reported that increasing BMI is typically associated with reduction in FEV1 and FVC. Also, Bach et al. [44] observed that obesity in dogs caused airflow limitation during the expiratory phase.

The FEV1/FVC ratio was lower in both obese prehypertensive and obese normotensive women than in lean normotensive women but did not reach the obstructive limit (below 70%). Sin et al. [45] reported that an FEV1/FVC ratio below 70% (the spirometric signature of airflow obstruction) is not a feature of respiratory disease associated with obesity.

Suzuki et al. [46] suggested that neutrophil elastase contributes to the induction of airway constriction and airway responsiveness in various inflammatory lung diseases with pulmonary neutrophil infiltration, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and possibly bronchial asthma. Nevertheless, the elastase-anti-elastase hypothesis, while popular for a time, is no longer considered the sole explanation for the pathogenesis of emphysema, in the same way that neutrophils are no longer believed to represent the only cellular source of elastolytic enzymes in the lung [47]. Other factors have also been implicated in air space enlargement, including other classes of proteinases (matrix metalloproteinases and cysteine proteinases), oxidative stress, and apoptosis of lung structural cells [48].

TC, TG, and LDL-c were significantly higher in obese prehypertensive women than obese normotensive subjects and healthy controls. This is in agreement with Ganguly et al. [49] who concluded that the prehypertensives had higher levels of TC, TG, and LDL-c than normotensives in a cross-sectional community-based study including 327 prediabetic Omani adults. Similar findings were reported by Liszka et al. [4] and Grotto et al. [50].

Our results showed significantly greater hs-CRP in obese prehypertensive women than obese normotensive women and healthy controls. These results are consistent with those from a study by King et al. [38], who demonstrated significantly higher CRP in prehypertension than normotension.

In addition, we found significant correlations between serum neutrophil elastase and BMI, WC, SBP, DBP, lipid profile and hs-CRP in obese prehypertensive women. These data suggest an association between elastin turnover activity and vascular complications of obesity and hypertension.

One large study of 1,400 patients with cardiovascular disease demonstrated that the serum elastase activity (SEA) was directly proportional to BMI and glucose level and inversely proportional to the triglyceride level. The authors concluded that the remodeling of vessel walls depends not only on the degradation of elastin but also on lipid metabolism [51]. Similarly, SEA was studied as part of an epidemiological study of vascular and cognitive aging (EVA study). SEA was positively and significantly correlated with BMI, systolic blood pressure and triglycerides in both sexes. In multivariate analysis, independent determinants of an increased SEA were age, triglycerides and glucose in men and TGs in women [52]. Paczek et al. [41] also found positive direct correlations between BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and elastase activity.

We observed a significant negative correlation between serum elastase and HDL-c. Our results agree with those of Landi et al. [53], who found significant negative correlations between HDL and HDL2-c and elastase inhibitory capacity in both male atherosclerosis patients and control subjects. Also, elastase-type activity and elastase inhibitory capacity were determined in the sera of atherosclerotic patients, those suffering from ischemic vascular disease located at various sites, and control subjects. There was a significant negative correlation between the inhibitory capacity and HDL-c [54]. Polacek et al. [55] confirmed that both LDL and HDL, two of the major plasma lipoprotein classes, can affect the export from PMN of an elastase that exhibits proteolytic action on apo-B and apo-A-11 in vitro.

Our results showed a significant positive correlation between neutrophil elastase and hs-CRP in obese prehypertensive women. Consistent with these findings, Zureik et al. [56] reported that serum elastase activity was associated with fibrinogen and CRP after a 4 year follow-up in a population of 859 subjects between 59 and 71 years of age. Kakuta et al. [57] suggested that CRP degradation products generated by neutrophil elastase promote neutrophil apoptosis. Cleavage of CRP by neutrophil elastase may offer protection from inflammatory injury.

There was an insignificant negative correlation between the increased level of serum neutrophil elastase and pulmonary function tests in obese prehypertensive women, in agreement with Bizeto et al. [58], who found negative correlations between increased neutrophil elastase level and impairment of FVC, FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

From the previous discussion, it seems that elevated serum elastase in obese women could reflect a minor inflammatory state and might be considered an important contributor to the development of prehypertension and possible lung function impairment. Also, the elevation of serum elastase in obesity may explain its association with both hypertension and air flow limitation; additional studies are needed to elucidate the significance of this observation.

Conclusion

Serum neutrophil elastase concentration is elevated in obese prehypertensive women and its level is correlated with inflammatory markers (high sensitivity C-reactive protein), dyslipidemia and air flow dysfunction.

Abbreviations

NE:

Neutrophil elastase

BMI:

Body mass index

WC:

waist circumference

hs-CRP:

high sensitivity C- reactive protein

FEV1:

forced expiratory volume in one second

FVC:

forced vital capacity

TC:

total cholesterol

TG:

triglyceride

LDL-c:

low density lipoprotein cholesterol

HDL-c:

high density lipoprotein cholesterol

EDP:

elastin-derived protein

SEA:

serum elastase activity.

References

  1. Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, Cushman WC: The seventh report of the joint national committee on prevention, detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure: The JNC 7 Report. JAMA. 2003, 289: 2560-10.1001/jama.289.19.2560.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Greenlund KJ, Groft JB, Mensah GA: Prevalence of heart disease and stroke risk factors in persons with prehypertension in the United States, 1999-2000. Arch - Intern Med. 2004, 164: 2113-10.1001/archinte.164.19.2113.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Vasan RS, Larson MG, Leip EP, Kannel WB, Levy D: Assessment of frequency of progression to hypertension in non-hypertensive participants in the Framingham Heart Study: a cohort study. Lacent. 2001, 358: 1682-1686.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Liszka HA, Mainous AG, King DE, Everett CJ, Egan BM: Prehypertension and cardiovascular morbidity. Ann Fam Med. 2005, 3: 294-299. 10.1370/afm.312.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Lenfant C, Chobanian AV, Janes DW, Roccella EJ: Seventh report of the joint national committee on the prevention, detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure (JNC7): Resetting the hypertension sail - Hypertension. 2003, 41: 1178-1179.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Janoff A, Scherer J: Mediators of inflammation in leukocyte lysosomes. IX. Elastinolytic activity in granules of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. J Exp Med. 1968, 128: 1137-1155. 10.1084/jem.128.5.1137.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Belaaouaj AA, McCarthy R, Baumann M, Ley Gaoz TJ, Abraham SN, Shapiro SD: Mice lacking neturophil elastase reveal impaired host defense against gram negative bacterial sepsis. Nat Med. 1998, 4: 615-618. 10.1038/nm0598-615.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Garica R, Gusmanil L, Murgia R, Guarnaccia C, Cinco M, Rottini G: Elastase is the only human neutrophil granule protein that alone is responsible for the in vitro killing of borrelia burgdoferi. Infect Immun. 1998, 66: 1408-1412.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Tkalcevic J, Novelli M, phylactides M, Iredale JP, Segal AW, Roes AW, Roes J: Impaired immunity and enhanced resistance to endotoxin in the absence of neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G. Immunity. 2000, 12: 201-210. 10.1016/S1074-7613(00)80173-9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Robert L, Robert AM, Tacotot B: Elastin-elastase-athersclerosis revisited. Atherosclerosis. 1998, 140: 81-95. 10.1016/S0021-9150(98)00171-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Siedle B, Cisielski S, Murillo R, Löser B, Castro V, Klaas CA, Hucke O, Labahn A, Melzig MF, Merfort I: Sesquiterpene lactones as inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase. Bioorg Med Chem. 2002, 10: 2855-2861. 10.1016/S0968-0896(02)00149-9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bedard M, McClure CD, Schiller NL, Francoeur C, Cantin A, Denis M: Release of interleukin-8, interleukin-6 and colony stimulating factors by upper airway epithelial cells: implications for cystic fibrosis. Am J Respir cell Mol Biol. 1993, 9: 455-63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lee WL, Downey GP, Leukocyte elastase: physiological functions and role in acute lung injury. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001, 164: 896-904.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Turino GM, Seniorrm , Garg BD, Keller S, Levi MM, Mandl I: Serum elastase inhibitor deficiency and a1-anti trypsin deficiency in patients with obstructive emphysema. Science. 1969, 165: 709-711. 10.1126/science.165.3894.709.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Gettins PG: Serpin structure, mechanism, and function. Chem Rev. 2002, 102: 4751-804. 10.1021/cr010170+.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hornebeck W, potazman JP, De Cremoux H, Bellon G, Robert L: Elastase-type activity of human serum: its variation in chronic obstructive lung diseases and atherosclerosis. Clin physiol Biochem. 1983, 1: 285-592.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Khan TZ, Wagener JS, Bost T, Martinez J, Accurso FJ, Riches DW: Early pulmonary inflammation in infants with cystic fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit care Med. 1995, 151: 1075-1082.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Owen CA, Campbell EJ: The cell biology of leukocyte mediated proteolysis. J Leukoc Biol. 1999, 65: 137-150.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bizbiz L, Bonithon-Kopp C, Ducimetiere' P, Berrc , Alperovitch A, Robert L: Relation of serum elatase activity to ultrasonographyically assessed carotid artery wall lesions and cardiovascular risk factors. The EVA study. Atherolersosis. 1996, 120: 47-55. 10.1016/0021-9150(95)05676-9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Yasmin McEniery, Wallace S, Dakham Z, pulsalkar P, Maki-Petaja K, Ashby MJ, Cockcroft JR, Wilkinson IB: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), MMp-2 and serum elastase activity are associated with systolic hypertension and arterial stiffness. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2005, 25: 372-10.1161/01.ATV.0000151373.33830.41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Gardiner PJ: Neutrophil elastase inhibitors. Eur Respir Rev. 2002, 12: 373-374.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Friedewald WT, Levy RT, Fredrickson DS: Estimation of the concentration of low- density lipoprotein cholesterol without the use of preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem. 1972, 18: 499.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Oremek , et al: MTA. 1995, 10: 273-278.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kimberly MM, Vesper HW, Caudill SP, Cooper GR, Rifai N, Dati F, Myers GL: Standardization of immunoassay for measurement of high-sensitivity C reactive protein phase 1: Evaluation of secondary reference materials. Clin Chem. 2003, 49: 611-616. 10.1373/49.4.611.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, Crapo R, Enright P, van der Grinten CP, Gustafsson P, Jensen R, Johnson DC, MacIntyre N, McKay R, Navajas D, Pedersen OF, Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Wanger J: Standardisation of spirometry. Eur Respir J. 2005, 26: 319-38. 10.1183/09031936.05.00034805.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Beilin LJ: Non-pharmacological management of hypertension: Optimal strategies for reducing cavdiovascular risk. J Hypertens. 1994, 12: S71-S81.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Yang G, Shu XO, Gao YT, Zhang X, Li H, Zheng W: Impacts of weight change on prehypertension in middle-aged and elderly women. Int J Obes. 2007, 31: 1818-1825. 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803680.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Okosun IS, Boltri JM, Anochie LK, Chandra KMD: Racial/ethnic differences in prehypertension in American adults: population and relative attributable risk of abdominal obesity. J Hum Hypertens. 2004, 18: 849-855. 10.1038/sj.jhh.1001771.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang Y, Lee ET, Devereux RB, Yeh J, Best LG, Fabsitz RR, Howard BV: Prehypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk in a population-based sample: The strong Heart Study. Hypertension. 2006, 47: 410-414. 10.1161/01.HYP.0000205119.19804.08.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Leone N, Courbon D, Thomas F, Bean K, Jégo B, Leynaert B, Guize L, Zureik M: Lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome: the critical role of abdominal obesity. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009, 179: 509-516. 10.1164/rccm.200807-1195OC.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Nicoloff G, Christova P: Elastin degradation products among obese children with family history of arterial hypertension. Diabetologia croatica. 2003, 32-1.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Nicoloff G, Petrova C, Dimitrova-Laleva P, Christova P: Increased elastin turnover in obese and diabetic children with vascular complications. Diabetologia croatica. 2003, 32-2.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Piwowar A, Knapik-Kordecka M, Warwas M: Concentration of leukocyte elastase in plasma and polymorphouclear neutrophil Extracts in type 2 diabetes. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2000, 38: 1257-1261. 10.1515/CCLM.2000.198.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Adeyemi E, Benedicts , Abdulle A: A comparison of plasma polymorphonuclear leucocyte elastase levels in obese and lean individuals. J Int Med Res. 1998, 26: 252-256.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Keeley FW, Alatawi A: Response of aortic elastin synthesis and accumulation to developing hypertension and the inhibitory effect of cochicine on this response. Lab Invest. 1991, 64: 499-507.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Rana JS, Nieuwdorp M, Jukema JW, Kastelein JJ: Cardiovascular metabolic syndrome-interplay of obesity, inflammation, diabetes and coronary heart disease. Diabetes obes Metab. 2007, 9: 218-232. 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2006.00594.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Chrysohoou C, Pitsavos C, Ponagiotakos DB, Skoumas J, Stefanadis C: Association between prehypertension status and inflammatory markers related to altheosclerotic disease. Am J Hypertens. 2004, 17: 568-573. 10.1016/j.amjhyper.2004.03.675. The ATTICA Study

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. King DE, Egan BM, Mainous AG, Geesey ME: Elevation of C-reactive protein in people with prehypertension. J Clin Hypertens. 2004, 6: 562-568. 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2004.03577.x.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Mania-pramanik J, potdar SS, Vadigoppula A, Sawant S: Elastase: a predictive matter of inflammation and/or infection. J Clin Lab Anal. 2004, 18: 153-158. 10.1002/jcla.20015.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Nicoloff G, Petkova-Botzova M, Baydanoff S: Serum levels of elastin and collagen-derived peptides in children with high risk of atherosclerosis. Int J Obes. 1995, 19: 120.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Paczek L, Michalska W, Bartlomiejczyk I: Trypsin, elastase, plasmin and MMP-9 activity in the serum during the human ageing process. Age ageing. 2008, 37: 318-323. 10.1093/ageing/afn039.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Antonicelli F, Bellon G, Debelle L, Hornebeck W: Elastin- elastases and inflamm-aging. Curr Top Dev Biol. 2007, 79: 99-155. full_text.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Lazarus R, Sparrow D, Weiss ST: Effect of obesity and fat distribution on ventillatory function: the normative aging study. Chest. 1997, 111: 91-98. 10.1378/chest.111.4.891.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Bach JF, Rozanski EA, Bedenice D, et al: Association of expiratory airway dysfunction with marked obesity in healthy adult dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2007, 68: 670-675. 10.2460/ajvr.68.6.670.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Sin DD, Jones RI, Man SF: Obesity is a risk factor for dyspnea but not for air flow obstruction. Arch Intern Med. 2002, 162: 1477-1481. 10.1001/archinte.162.13.1477.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Suzuki T, Wang W, Lin JT, Shirato K, Mitsuhashi H, Inoue H: Aerosolized human neutrophil elastase induces airway constriction and hyperresponsiveness with protection by intravenous pretreatment with half- length secretory leukprotease inhibitor. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996, 153: 1405-11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Parks WC, Shapiro SD: Matrix metalloproteinases in lung biology. Respir Res. 2001, 2: 10-19. 10.1186/rr33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Owen CA: Proteinases and oxidants as targets in the treatment of obstructive pulmonary disease. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2005, 2: 373-385. 10.1513/pats.200504-029SR.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Ganguly SS, Al-Shafaee MA, Bhargava K, Duttagupta KK: Prevalence of prehypertension and associated cardiovascular risk profiles among prediabetic Omani adults. BMC Public Health. 2008, 8: 108-10.1186/1471-2458-8-108.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Grotto I, Grossman E, Huerta M, Sharabi Y: Prevalence of prehypertension and associated cardiovascular risk profiles among young Israeli adults. Hypertension. 2006, 48: 254-272. 10.1161/01.HYP.0000227507.69230.fc.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Bonithon-Kopp C, Touboul PJ, Berr C, Magne C, Ducimetière P, et al: Factors of carotid arterial enlargement in a popular aged 59 to 71 years. Stoke. 1996, 27: 654-660.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. BizBiz L, Bonithon-Kopp C, Ducimetiere P, Berr C, Alper.Ovitch A, Robert L: Relation of serum elastase activity to ultrasonographically assessed carotid artery wall lesions and cardiovascular risk factors. The EVA study Atherosclerosis. 1996, 120: 47-55. 10.1016/0021-9150(95)05676-9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Landi A, Bihari-Varga M, Keller L, Mezey Z, Gruber E: Elastase - type enzymes and their relation to blood lipids in atherosclerotic patients. Atherosclerosis. 1992, 93: 17-23. 10.1016/0021-9150(92)90196-N.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Bihari-Varga M, Keller L, Landi A, Robert L: Elastase-type activity, elastase inhibitory capacity, lipids and lipoproteins in the sera of patients with ischemic vascular disease. Atherosclerosis. 1984, 50: 273-81. 10.1016/0021-9150(84)90075-3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Polacek D, Byrne RE, Fless GM, Scanu AM: In vitro proteolysis of human plasma low density lipoproleins by an elastase released from human blood polymorphonuclear cells. J Biol Chem. 1986, 261: 2057-2063.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Zureik M, Robert L, Courbon D, Touboul PJ, Bizbiz L, Ducimetiere P, Serum elastase activity: serum elastase inhibitors, and occurrence of carotid Atherosclerotic plagues. Circulation. 2002, 105: 2638-2645. 10.1161/01.CIR.0000017329.51160.EF.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Kakuta J, Aoshiba K, Nagi A: : C-reactive protein products generated by neutrophil elastase promote neutrophil apoptosis. Arch Med Res. 2006, 37: 456-460. 10.1016/j.arcmed.2005.10.010.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Bizeto L, Mazzolini AB: Ribeiro: Interrelationship between serum and sputum inflammatory mediators in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2008, 41: 193-198. 10.1590/S0100-879X2008005000010.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Pre-publication history

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all sample donors for their contribution to this study and all members of the Endocrinology Unit, Specialized Medical Hospital, Mansoura, Egypt. This paper has been linguistically revised by BiomedES LTD and we appreciate their help in copyediting service.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine Department, Specialized Medical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Mervat M El-Eshmawy, Eman H El-Adawy, Amany A Mousa & Omayma M Saleh

  2. Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Azza A El-Baiomy & Elham R Abdel-Samie

  3. Chest Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University Hospital, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Amany E Zeidan

Authors
  1. Mervat M El-Eshmawy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eman H El-Adawy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Amany A Mousa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Amany E Zeidan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Azza A El-Baiomy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Elham R Abdel-Samie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Omayma M Saleh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eman H El-Adawy.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

MME drafted the manuscript. EHE and AAM helped to draft the manuscript, AEZ carried out chest examinations and pulmonary function tests, AAE and ERA carried out the laboratory studies, OMS conceived of the study and participated in its design and coordination. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.

Authors’ original file for figure 1

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

El-Eshmawy, M.M., El-Adawy, E.H., Mousa, A.A. et al. Elevated serum neutrophil elastase is related to prehypertension and airflow limitation in obese women. BMC Women's Health 11, 1 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-11-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-11-1

Keywords

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
  • Force Vital Capacity
  • Pulmonary Function Test
  • Neutrophil Elastase

BMC Women's Health

ISSN: 1472-6874

Contact us