Is oxidative stress central to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

There is now considerable evidence for an increased oxidant burden in patie nts with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oxidative stress is a critical feature in the pathogenesis of COPD, since it results in inactiv ation of antiproteinases, airspace epithelial injury, mucus hypersecretion, increased influx of neutrophils into the lungs, transcription factor activ ation and gene expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Antioxidants shoul d therefore not only protect against the direct injurious effects of oxidan ts, but also may fundamentally alter the inflammatory events which have a c entral role in the pathogenesis of COPD.