title: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from science to the clinic: the role of glutathione in oxidant-antioxidant balance.
abstract: The data presented in this manuscript suggest that there is a profound change in oxidant/anti-oxidant balance in smokers and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly during exacerbations. This may be important in the pathogenesis of the condition. The antioxidant glutathione appears to be a critical protective mechanism in the distal airspace against oxidant-induced damage to epithelial cells. Studies of the regulation of antioxidants in the lungs, including glutathione, may well lead to the development of new therapeutic options to enhance the oxidant screen in the lungs, which should be useful in many conditions of lung inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Unit, University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: MacNee
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D005978:Glutathione