The enzymatic deficiencies in lymphocytes of smokers.

In the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 85 men aged 18 to 42 years having smoked cigarettes for 2 to 25 years, the activity of various intracellular enzymes was determined using the semiquantitative histochemical methods. The lymphocytes of people having smoked for less than 10 years were characterized by increased acid phosphatase (AP), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activities whereas that of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were lowered. In subjects having smoked for more than 10 years lower acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and lactic dehydrogenase activities have been observed. According to the authors' suggestions, the functional lymphocyte abnormalities noted in smokers by numerous investigators may be associated with the intracellular enzymatic deficiencies.