Influence of high-dose pancreatic enzyme treatment on pancreatic function in healthy volunteers

Role of Oral Enzymes in Post Operative Septoplasty Cases

Enzymes are complex macromolecules of amino acids which biocatalyse various body processes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of oral enzymes for control of infection and inflammation in post operative septoplasty cases. 40 patients planned for septoplasty under general anaesthesia were taken up for study. 20 patients were included in group E and were given a combination of oral enzymes postoperatively. Remaining 20 patients were included in group D and were given diclofenac and paracetamol combination postoperatively. Patients were evaluated post operatively after 1, 2 and 4 weeks for post operative pain , swelling , congestion , patient satisfaction and other criterias. The results showed that pain and swelling was significantly less in oral enzymes group . There was less nasal obstruction , discharge and more patient satisfaction in enzyme group. There were less complications in enzyme group. So it can be concluded that oral enzymes are more effective for control of infection and inflammation in post operative septoplasty cases.

Specificity of a Polyclonal Fecal Elastase ELISA for CELA3

Introduction

Elastase is a proteolytic pancreatic enzyme that passes through the gastrointestinal tract undergoing only limited degradation. ELISA tests to determine stool elastase concentrations have therefore been developed for the diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Five different isoforms of pancreatic elastase (CELA1, CELA2A, CELA2B, CELA3A, CELA3B) are encoded in the human genome. We have investigated three different polyclonal antisera that are used in a commercial fecal elastase ELISA to determine their specificity for different pancreatic elastase isoforms.

Material and Methods

Different polyclonal rabbit antisera against human elastase peptides (BIOSERV Diagnostics GmbH, Germany) were tested by Western blot analysis of human pancreatic juice, in HEK-293 cells expressing Elastase constructs, and in the protein content of porcine pancreatin, used for treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Results

In human pancreatic juice the polyclonal antisera detected proteins at the corresponding size of human pancreatic elastase isoforms (~29kDa). Transiently expressed GFP fusion protein of elastase isoform CELA3A (CELA3A-GFP), but not CELA2A (CELA2A-GFP) could be precipitated from HEK-293 cell lysates with the elastase antisera. We detected no cross-reactivity with elastases in the porcine pancreatic extracts (pancreatin) used for enzyme replacement therapy.

Conclusion

The polyclonal antisera used in a commercial fecal elastase ELISA are specific for the human pancreatic elastase isoform CELA3 and do not cross-react with elastase contained in pig pancreatin. While pancreatic elastase 1 (CELA1) is not expressed in the adult human pancreas, possible differences between the other isoforms regarding their cellular expression, pathophysiological role and relevance in exocrine pancreatic insufficiency deserve further investigation.

Inhibition of endogenous pancreatic enzyme secretion by oral pancreatic enzyme treatment

BACKGROUND

The existence of a feedback mechanism for exocrine pancreatic secretion in humans is controversial. Exclusion of proteases from the duodenum stimulates exocrine pancreatic secretion. Conversely, addition of exogenous enzymes could reduce the enzyme secretion. Further investigation of the feedback mechanism should be performed under the most physiological conditions. In the present study we investigated exocrine pancreatic function by measuring fecal enzyme output in healthy volunteers consuming a normal diet, before and during a time course of exogenous pancreatic enzyme supplementation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-five healthy subjects (HS) were given two different doses (30 and 60 FIP proteases kg(-1) d(-1)) divided by the number of meals. In all subjects, fecal elastase-1 (E1) concentrations and chymotrypsin (ChT) activities were measured without and with enzyme supplements after 7 days of treatment. In eight subjects, E1 concentrations and ChT activities were measured daily for 10 consecutive days. The subjects were given a dose regimen of 100 FIP proteases kg(-1) d(-1)(divided by the number of meals) for the first 7 days.

RESULTS

Oral pancreatic treatment dose-dependently inhibited endogenous pancreatic secretion measured with the use of E1 concentrations. In both regimen groups, the differences were statistically significant. The exogenous enzymes, which interfere with colorimetric method for ChT, dose-dependently increased ChT output. However, only the higher dose resulted in a statistically significant difference. In the subgroup of eight HS, time-dependent changes of fecal enzyme output occurred with a decrease of E1 concentrations and an increase of ChT activity from the second up to eighth or ninth day of the experiment.

CONCLUSION

Exogenous applied pancreatic enzymes, dose- and time-dependently inhibited endogenous pancreatic secretion. The obtained results strongly support the existence of a protease mediated feedback mechanism in humans.