Activity/Stability of Human Pepsin: Implications for Reflux Attributed Laryngeal Disease

Abstract

Detectable levels of pepsin remain in laryngeal epithelia after a reflux event. Pepsin bound there would be enzymatically inactive because the mean pH of the laryngopharynx is pH 6.8. Significantly, pepsin could remain in a form that would be reactivated by a subsequent decrease in pH, such as would occur during an acidic reflux event or possibly after uptake into intracellular compartments of lower pH.