HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Modulation of glutaredoxin in the lung and sputum of cigarette smokers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
One typical feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the disturbance of the oxidant/antioxidant balance. Glutaredoxins (Grx) are thiol disulfide oxido-reductases with antioxidant capacity and catalytic functions closely associated with glutathione, the major small molecular weight antioxidant of human lung. However, the role of Grxs in smoking related diseases is unclear.
METHODS:
Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses were conducted with lung specimens (n = 45 and n = 32, respectively) and induced sputum (n = 50) of healthy non-smokers and smokers without COPD and at different stages of COPD.
RESULTS:
Grx1 was expressed mainly in alveolar macrophages. The percentage of Grx1 positive macrophages was significantly lower in GOLD stage IV COPD than in healthy smokers (p = 0.021) and the level of Grx1 in total lung homogenate decreased both in stage I-II (p = 0.045) and stage IV COPD (p = 0.022). The percentage of Grx1 positive macrophages correlated with the lung function parameters (FEV1, r = 0.45, p = 0.008; FEV1%, r = 0.46, p = 0.007, FEV/FVC%, r = 0.55, p = 0.001). Grx1 could also be detected in sputum supernatants, the levels being increased in the supernatants from acute exacerbations of COPD compared to non-smokers (p = 0.013) and smokers (p = 0.051).
CONCLUSION:
The present cross-sectional study showed that Grx1 was expressed mainly in alveolar macrophages, the levels being decreased in COPD patients. In addition, the results also demonstrated the presence of Grx1 in extracellular fluids including sputum supernatants. Overall, the present study suggests that Grx1 is a potential redox modulatory protein regulating the intracellular as well as extracellular homeostasis of glutathionylated proteins and GSH in human lung.
AuthorsMirva J Peltoniemi, Paula H Rytilä, Terttu H Harju, Ylermi M Soini, Kaisa M Salmenkivi, Lloyd W Ruddock, Vuokko L Kinnula
JournalRespiratory research (Respir Res) Vol. 7 Pg. 133 (Oct 25 2006) ISSN: 1465-993X [Electronic] England
PMID17064412 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • GLRX protein, human
  • Glutaredoxins
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Glutathione
Topics
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Glutaredoxins
  • Glutathione (metabolism)
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Lung (metabolism, physiopathology)
  • Macrophages, Alveolar (metabolism)
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidoreductases (metabolism)
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (metabolism, physiopathology)
  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Smoking
  • Sputum (metabolism)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: