REVIEWS   

Minerva Pneumologica 2009 June:48(2):111-28

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Saturni S. ¹, Caramori G. ¹, Paredi P. ², Casolari P. ¹, Contoli M. ¹, Ciaccia A. ¹, Papi A. ¹

¹ Centro di Ricerca su Asma e BPCO Università di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italia 2 Dipartimento per le malattie respiratorie Imperial College, Londra, Gran Bretagna

Stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with lower airways and systemic oxidative stress. Cigarette smoking is the main source of oxidants/nitrosants for the COPD lung in stable phase, together with other exogenous sources, such as air pollutants or oxygen therapy, and endogenous sources. Oxidative stress is counterbalanced by many antioxidant systems. Some genetic polymorphisms in these antioxidant systems may modulate the susceptibility of chronic smokers to develop COPD. Many clinical studies have shown the presence of oxidative stress in biological liquids (blood, urine, exhaled breath, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage) and lung tissues of COPD patients in stable phase, compared to control smokers and non-smoking subjects with normal lung function.