The Effects of Smoking on Glutathione Levels in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

Authors: FÜSUN ALATAŞ, NECLA ÖZDEMİR, ÖZKAN ALATAŞ, SİNAN ERGİNEL, MUZAFFER METİNTAŞ, RANA IŞIK

Abstract: Cigarette smoke contains high concentrations of oxidants and reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term cigarette smoking on glutathione (GSH) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Nineteen current cigarette smokers and seven healthy nonsmoking volunteers were included in the study. BAL was performed by infusion of five sequential 20 ml aliquots and each aliquot was immediately aspirated. The levels of GSH were determined in BAL fluids. The epithelial lining fluid volume was calculated by the ratio of urea concentration in BAL fluid to that in serum. Lower GSH levels were observed in the BAL fluid of current smokers than in that of nonsmokers (8.28 ± 0.78, 12.74 ± 1.09 µM respectively, p<0.01) GSH levels in epithelial lining fluid from smokers were also significantly lower than those from nonsmokers (p<0.001). Our data suggest that chronic smoke exposure causes decreased GSH levels in the BAL fluid of current smokers, possibly due to the excess generation of oxidants and/or impairment of the synthesis of antioxidants at different cellular levels. The oxidant and antioxidant imbalance observed in smokers may be a factor in the pathogenesis of oxidant-mediated damage to respiratory airways and lungs.

Keywords: Bronchoalveolar lavage, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Glutathione, Smoking.

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