The effects of proteolytic enzymes on the tensile strength of human lung.

Human lung tissues were exposed to proteolytic enzymes to determine the effects on tensile strength and to clarify the relationship between tensile strength and the amounts of collagen and elastin in the tissue. Elastase and papain depleted the tissue of elastin but failed to alter tensile strength. Trypsin had no effect on tensile strength, or on collagen and elastin content. collagenase lowered tensile strength and reduced the amount of collagen in the tissue. The findings with collagenase were in agreement with measurements in control tissues that showed a direct relationship between tensile strength and collagen content. These results confirm collagen as the principal determinant of the tensile strength of human lung.