HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kinnula, V L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kinnula, V L

Focus on antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant strategies in smoking related airway diseases

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor V L Kinnula
University of Helsinki, Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, P O Box 22, Haartmaninkatu 4, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland; vuokko.kinnula{at}helsinki.fi

Cigarette smoke causes significant oxidant stress which is further enhanced by recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells to the lung. Polymorphisms in some detoxification enzymes are thought to increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the ultimate role of genetic variability in antioxidant and/or detoxification enzymes in COPD remains obscure. Some antioxidant enzymes are inducted, but the extent of induction is insufficient to protect the lung/alveolar epithelium against cigarette smoke. Exogenous antioxidants such as vitamins do not seem to protect against cigarette smoke related lung injury. Glutathione related synthetic drugs such as N-acetylcysteine have shown some benefits, but they may have pro-oxidant side effects. Synthetic compounds with superoxide dismutase and catalase activities have shown promising results in animal models against a variety of oxidant exposures including cigarette smoke in the lung. These results are in agreement with studies highlighting the importance of alveolar antioxidant protection mechanisms in oxidant stress and their inducibility. These new drugs need to be tested in cigarette smoking related lung injury/inflammation since inflammation/oxidant stress can continue after discontinuation of smoking.

Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CuZnSOD, copper zinc SOD, ECSOD, extracellular SOD; ELF, epithelial lining fluid; GCL, glutamate cysteine ligase; GPX, glutathione peroxidase; GR, glutathione reductase; GRX, glutaredoxin; GSH, glutathione; GST, glutathione-S-transferase; GT, -glutamyl transpeptidase; HO-1, heme oxygenase-1; MnSOD, manganese SOD; MRP, multidrug resistance protein; NAC, N-acetylcysteine; NO, nitric oxide; PRX, peroxiredoxin; ROS, reactive oxygen species; RNS, reactive nitrogen species; SOD, superoxide dismutase; TRX, thioredoxin

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; antioxidant enzymes; smoking; smoker’s lung

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Nadeem, A. Masood, and N. Siddiqui Review: Oxidant--antioxidant imbalance in asthma: scientific evidence, epidemiological data and possible therapeutic options Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease, August 1, 2008; 2(4): 215 - 235. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Siedlinski, D. S. Postma, C. C. van Diemen, A. Blokstra, H. A. Smit, and H. M. Boezen Lung Function Loss, Smoking, Vitamin C Intake, and Polymorphisms of the Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase Genes Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 2008; 178(1): 13 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I A Yang, K M Fong, P V Zimmerman, S T Holgate, and J W Holloway Genetic susceptibility to the respiratory effects of air pollution Thorax, June 1, 2008; 63(6): 555 - 563. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. F. Rabe, B. Beghe, F. Luppi, and L. M. Fabbri Update in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2006 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 15, 2007; 175(12): 1222 - 1232. [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Basyigit, M. Tugay, M.O. Dilioglugil, F. Yildiz, H. Maral, and S. Sozubir Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on peroxidative changes of the fetal rat lungs whose mothers were exposed to cigarette smoke Human and Experimental Toxicology, February 1, 2007; 26(2): 99 - 103. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J F Donohue Ageing, smoking and oxidative stress. Thorax, June 1, 2006; 61(6): 461 - 462. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K Nagai, T Betsuyaku, T Kondo, Y Nasuhara, and M Nishimura Long term smoking with age builds up excessive oxidative stress in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid Thorax, June 1, 2006; 61(6): 496 - 502. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Juul, A. Tybjaerg-Hansen, S. Marklund, P. Lange, and B. G. Nordestgaard Genetically Increased Antioxidative Protection and Decreased Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 15, 2006; 173(8): 858 - 864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]