Markers per la valutazione dello stato redox dei tioli e dell'attività di antiossidanti in un modello di inquinamento voluttuario delle vie aeree (fumo di sigaretta)

Both environmental pollutants and cigarette smoke are risk factors for the occurrence of respiratory, cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases. A common pathophysiological mechanism for both environmental pollutants and cigarette smoke is the increased generation, due to both smoke and pollutants, of reactive oxygen species (ROS), with subsequent generation of oxidative stress. In 10 smokers (>20 cigarettes/day, mean age 53 y) the thiol redox status has been evaluated, i.e. the equilibrium between oxidized and reduced species, in blood and plasma, for cystein, cisteinylglycine, homocysteine and glutathion (GSH), both in basal conditions (T1) and 60 days (T2) after administration of a well known antioxidant, N-acetilcysteine (NAC). Results of the present study show no change in cystein levels, despite active administration of NAC, whereas a significant (p