Influence of smoking and free radicals on antioxidants deference and on the pathogenesis of certain diseases
Abstract
Cigeratte smoke leads to the production of a large number of different free radicals, especially superoxide, alkoxy -and alky1- radicals and free hydroxyl radicals. Antioxidant deference must be complex, i.e. a mixture of different substances.
Smoking injeres intracellular antioixidant balance, decreases the levels of glutathione, ascorbic, acid, glutathione peroxidase and catalase - carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and others are decreased in the extracullular fluid. The most dangerous complications of smoking in the respiratory pathways are inflammatory reactions, proliferation of cells, carcinoma cells, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Decrease of antioxidants, increase of asymetric dimethylarginine, of lipoperoxidation, of endothelin and peroxynitrite are the most important laboratory finding of damage. Another complication is endothelial dysfunction.
Free radicals oxidate and mutate DNA leading to an increased incidence of carcinomas. Free radicals and reactive oxygen species decrease the fertility of spermatozoa, and in pregnancy can damage the develpment of the foetus, they also encourage the origin of neurological and psychiatric diseases (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hemodynamic and inflammatory diseases of the brain they evoke the pain etc.).
Macular degeneration of the eyes, certain dental, gastrointestinal, renal, orthopaedic and skin diseases, and damageto cohlear epithelial cells due to noise are some of other possibilities of damage due to cigarette smoke.