Antioxidant supplementation prevents oxidation and inflammatory responses induced by sidestream cigarette smoke in old mice

Sidestream cigarette smoke (SSCS) makes up about 85% of significantly toxic environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in SSCS p lay an important role in the pathogenesis of a wide range of diseases. Inte rleukin-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and is closely linked with patholo gy in cardiovascular disease and conditions that have an inflammatory base. Exposure to SSCS through a burning cigarette for 30 min/day, 5 days a week , for 4 months increased interleukin-6 production in spleen and lipid perox ide level in mouse liver. Our findings suggest that ROS induced by SSCS wil l promote hepatic lipid peroxidation and may also contribute to an increase in interleukin-6 cytokine production. Multiple antioxidants given as a die tary supplement significantly normalized interieukin-6 cytokine production and prevented hepatic lipid peroxidation. We conclude that the SSCS in mode rate intake levels increased oxidation and promoted inflammatory cytokine i nterleukin-6 production, whereas antioxidants prevented these changes.