Serum Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme and Lysosomal Enzymes in Tobacco Workers

The activities of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in people with extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) have been both increased and decreased. These observations suggest that pulmonary macrophages or endothelial cells participate in the disease process. Exposure to molds in the tobacco industry has recently been suspected to be associated with chronic extrinsic allergic alveolitis. In the present study, we analyzed the serum activities of ACE and two lysosomal enzymes, β-N-acetylglycosaminidase (NAG) and β-glucuronidase (CLU), among 57 tobacco workers. The tobacco workers not exposed had serum ACE levels similar to those of the reference population workers not occupationally exposed to dust (N = 127). The tobacco workers’ serum levels of NAG (16.0 ±2.0 units/L and GLU (2.4 ±0.7 units/L) were higher than among the referents (NAG, 9.1 ±2.0 units/L; GLU, 1.0 ±0.6 units/L; ρ