EVALUATION OF THIOL COMPOUNDS AND LIPID PEROXIDATIVE PRODUCTS IN PLASMA OF PATIENTS WITH COPD

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is the major etiological factor in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the local inflammation and oxidative stress are considered as primary pathogentic mechanisms of COPD. The aim of the current preliminary study was to adapt for microanalyses methods for assessment of the products of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and thiol compounds in plasma, to investigate the levels of those biological markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in patients with COPD and to determine factors affecting those indexes. Methods: MDA and thiol compounds were evaluated in 14 patients with COPD and in 12 non-affected control individuals. Results: The values of MDA were significantly higher (p<0.0001) (Figure 3A) and of the thiols were significantly lower (p=0.048) (Figure 3B) in patients with COPD compared to those in controls. The levels of MDA were significantly higher in patients who had smoked or were current smokers (4,800±0,932 mmol/l) than non-smokers (3,351±0,635 mmol/l, p=0.0.28). We found a strong significant inverse correlation between MDA levels EFV1% pr. (R= -0.500, p=0.069), however there was no correlation with other characteristics of lung function (FEV1/FVC % и PEF). In addition, there was a significant positive correlation of the BMI with MDA levels (R=0.482, p=0.020) and significant inverse correlation with thiol levels (R= -0.470, p=0.024) in plasma of all investigated individuals (both controls and patients with COPD). In conclusions based on the results of our preliminary study we suggest the presence of systemic oxidative stress in COPD, which is severe in more advanced stage and confirm the role of smoking in its aggravation. The overweight might contribute to the deterioration of the imbalance of oxidants/antioxidants both in COPD patients and unaffected individuals