Oxidative stress in cigarette smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is the most important exogenous risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oxidative stress induced by smoking is considered to play major roles in the pathogenesis of COPD. In this review, we describe the theory of oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and the cellular and molecular reactions induced by oxidative stress. In addition, we discuss the effects of cigarette smoking on oxidative stress in smokers and patients with COPD. Smoking leads to increased acute pulmonary and systemic oxidative stress in cigarette smokers. As chronic effects of smoking, both pulmonary and systemic oxidative stress are increased in cigarette smokers and patients with COPD compared to non-smokers, the level of oxidative stress increases in association with duration of smoking history. Furthermore, pulmonary and systemic oxidative stress has been reported to be increased in response to exercise in cigarette smokers with a short smoking history, compared to non-smokers, although no difference was seen in baseline oxidative stress levels. Cigarette smoking affects the pulmonary and systemic oxidative stress response even in cigarette smokers with a short smoking history as well as smokers with a long smoking history and COPD patients.