title: In vivo assessment of pulmonary oxidant damage: the role of bronchoalveolar lavage.
abstract: Oxidants can cause injury and cell death by modifying and/or disturbing the structure and function of any cellular or non-cellular component. There is overwhelming evidence that a variety of lung disorders are mediated, at least in part, by oxidants causing tissue damage, especially since its location, anatomy, and function makes the lung a primary target for oxidant injury. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is an excellent tool to evaluate these mechanisms in vivo. BAL allows the repetitive sampling of the cellular and non-cellular components of the fluid lining the epithelium of the lower respiratory tract with minimal risk and discomfort for the patient. The analysis of cell numbers, differential cell counts, cellular functions, and concentrations and functional properties of non-cellular components of BAL fluid continuously improves our understanding of the pathogenesis of lung diseases and of the pathogenetic role of oxidants and antioxidants in particular, by "looking into the living lungs." Further, the ready access of the respiratory epithelial surface by BAL provides opportunities to evaluate and monitor therapeutic strategies directed at reducing the oxidant burden and/or augmenting the antioxidant defense mechanisms in the lower respiratory tract, thereby correcting an oxidant-antioxidant imbalance directly at the site of disease.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, Frankfurt University Hospital, Main, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buhl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meier-Sydow
mesh_terms: D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016877:Oxidants / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D016877:Oxidants