Antioxidant enzymes and melatonin levels in patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during stable and exacerbation periods

Abstract

An imbalance between oxidative stress and antioxidative capacity may play an important role in the development and progression of bronchial asthma (BA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We carried out a study to assess the systemic oxidant-antioxidant status during the exacerbation and the stable period in patients with BA and COPD. A total of 33 patients, 16 with BA and 17 with COPD were included in the study. During the exacerbation and the stable periods, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GRd), and catalase (CAT) in erythrocytes and serum melatonin concentrations were investigated. Blood counts, respiratory functions, and blood gases of the patients were also performed. During an exacerbation period of BA, despite the decreases in GSH-Px, GRd and melatonin levels, MDA and CAT levels, and the white blood cell count, the percentage of eosinophils were significantly higher than in the stable period. Also, it was found that FEV(1)/L (where FEV(1) is the forced expiratory volume in 1 s), FVC/L (where FVC is forced vital capacity), PEF/L/s (where PEF is peak expiratory flow), pO(2) (where pO(2) is oxygen pressure) levels increased during the stable period in patients with BA. MDA and SOD values were higher in the exacerbation period than in the stable period although GSH-Px, GRd, melatonin, pH, and pO(2) values were lower in the exacerbation period than in the stable period. The blood counts and the respiratory function tests did not change between the exacerbation and the stable period of patients with COPD significantly. In conclusion, we observed that oxidative stress in the exacerbation period of patients with BA and COPD increased whereas the antioxidant enzymes and melatonin values reduced. The episodes of BA or COPD might be associated with elevated levels of oxidative stress.

Coenzyme Q10, Copper, Zinc, and Lipid Peroxidation Levels in Serum of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…COPD [7,10,17]. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to compare the role of antioxidant CoQ10 level and Cu/Zn ratio with particular reference on oxidative stress and trace element system using levels of MDA, CoQ10, Cu, and Zn in serum of patients with COPD.…”

The Association between Adult Asthma and Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Gene Activity

“…Some studies suggested that increased concentrations of antioxidant enzyme activity may be a compensatory response to excessive oxidative stress [38]. Gumral et al [39] also thought that activation of CAT could reflect a compensatory response to excessive accumulation of free oxygen radicals in bronchial asthma. The alteration in antioxidant enzyme activity in asthma patients remains controversial.…”

New volatile anesthetic, desflurane, reduces vitamin E level in blood of operative patients via oxidative stress

“…Airway inflammation appears to play a central pathophysiological role in pulmonary diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases wherein an increased oxidative stress has been shown in the blood of patients with the diseases. 11,12 Volatile agents are frequently used in general anesthesia practice without complications. Clinical trials of desflurane on oxidative stress and antioxidant systems are still limited.…”