Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (
COPD) is a major worldwide health problem. There exists a relationship between
COPD and increased oxidative stress, and
oxidants may be involved in lung damage during the course of
COPD. Polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell recruitment at lung level plays an important role in
free radical overproduction, impact inflammatory processes and may alter
oxidant-
antioxidant balance. Biological aging is thought to be influenced by
free radical generation, aging, and the diseases. All the components of the respiratory system are affected by aging. Nutrition, smoking habits and sleep-related disorders also affect the respiratory system. Whether these changes are due to aging or associated with aging is a matter of debate. Since alterations caused by aging and cigarette
smoke in lungs of various species were informed to be partly simulated with age-related alterations in human lung, the effects of oxidative agents and antioxidative parameters on both
COPD and aging were evaluated.