Evaluation of activity and phenotype of α1-antitrypsin in a civil population with respiratory complications following exposure to sulfur mustard 20 years ago

Abstract

Background and aims: The reduced α1-antitrypsin (AAT) activities of some phenotypes have been suggested as contributing to the development of respiratory diseases.

Materials and methods: One hundred patients with respiratory disease following exposure to sulfur mustard were divided into two groups of 50 based on their respiratory symptoms and compared with a healthy control group. AAT phenotypes were determined in the plasma of all patient and control subjects by isoelectric focusing (IEF).

Results: Mean AAT activities in patient and control groups were 3.4 ± 0.3 and 4.2 ± 0.1 μmol min⁻¹ ml⁻¹, respectively (p < 0.001). No phenotypic alterations were detected.

Conclusions: The difference in the clinical pulmonary symptoms of the two groups was attributed to reduced AAT activity, but this was not manifested as phenotypic changes identifiable by IEF.

Keywords::

• Sulfur mustard
• α1-antitrypsin
• activity
• phenotype

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. Fagerhol, for his kind donation of standard AAT serum phenotypes (AAT Laboratory, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway), and Dr A. S. Lotfi from the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Tarbiat Modarres University for his technical assistance.

Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflict of interest that could potentially bias the results of the study.