Modulation of glutaredoxin in the lung and sputum of cigarette smokers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

One typical feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the disturbance of the oxidant/antioxidant balance. Glutaredoxins (Grx) are thiol disulfide oxido-reductases with antioxidant capacity and catalytic functions closely associated with glutathione, the major small molecular weight antioxidant of human lung. However, the role of Grxs in smoking related diseases is unclear.

Methods

Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses were conducted with lung specimens (n = 45 and n = 32, respectively) and induced sputum (n = 50) of healthy non-smokers and smokers without COPD and at different stages of COPD.

Results

Grx1 was expressed mainly in alveolar macrophages. The percentage of Grx1 positive macrophages was significantly lower in GOLD stage I

SUBMITTER: Peltoniemi MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1633737 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature