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Background: It is amply reported that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent evidence suggests that COPD patients have elevated concentrations of plasma homocysteine (Hcy), a transsulfuration pathway analyte that is commonly regarded as a CVD risk factor. Design: We comprehensively investigated the plasma concentrations of transsulfuration pathway analytes, and their relationship with markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, to identify which low molecular thiols might play a pathophysiological role both in CVD and in COPD. Hcy, cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH), cysteinylglycine (CysGly), glutamylcysteine (GluCys), taurine (Tau), oxidative stress markers (TBARS and protein‐SH, PSH) and the inflammation marker kynurenine/tryptophan (Kyn/Trp) ratio were measured in 54 COPD patients and 54 control subjects. Results: We found increased concentrations of total Hcy (P <.01) and total CysGly (P <.05) in COPD patients when compared to controls. Total Hcy and CysGly were also significantly associated with abnormal lung function parameters and COPD severity. In COPD patients, total Hcy was significantly associated with the Kyn/Trp ratio (P =.0017) whereas total CysGly was significantly associated with both PSH (P =.0298) and the Kyn/Trp ratio (P = <.0001). Conclusion: Both total Hcy and CysGly concentrations were significantly associated with the presence and severity of COPD and with markers of oxidative stress (total CysGly) and inflammation (total Hcy and CysGly). This suggests that specific low molecular mass thiols might play a role in the inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways involved in both CVD and COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental evidence suggests that oxidative stress (OS) may increase the activity of arginine methylating enzymes that produce the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). In addition, it is well documented that OS can significantly decrease the synthesis and/or activity of ADMA degrading enzymes, thus causing ADMA accumulation in biological fluids. Recent reports have focused on circulating methylated arginine concentrations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a disease characterized by a significant increase in OS. This review discusses the results of these studies and the opportunities for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) and asthma are both characterized by heterogeneous chronic airway inflammation and obstruction as well as oxidative stress ( OS). However, it is unknown whether OS occurs in early disease and how to best assess its presence. Plasma OS markers ( TBARS, PSH, taurine, GSH, ergothioneine and paraoxonase 1 activity) and lung function tests were measured in patients with mild stable asthma ( n = 24) and mild stable COPD ( n = 29) and in age- and sex-matched controls. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s ( FEV1) was associated with age both in patients and control groups. By contrast, FEV1 was positively correlated with PSH only in COPD (ρ = 0·49, P = 0·007). In multiple logistic regression analysis, lower PSH was the only OS marker independently associated with increased odds of both asthma ( OR = 0·32, 95% CI 0·13-0·78, P = 0·01) and COPD ( OR = 0·50, 95% CI 0·26-0·95, P = 0·03). These findings suggest that proteins -SH are a sensitive OS marker in early COPD and asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease characterized by a not fully reversible airflow limitation associated with an abnormal inflammatory response. Exacerbations of COPD are of major importance in the acceleration of disease progression, in healthcare costs, and negatively affect the patient's quality of life. Exacerbations are characterized by a further increase in the airway inflammation likely driven by oxidative stress. In order to deepen the knowledge about this topic, several studies have focused on oxidative stress biomarkers levels. This review summarizes the literature findings about oxidative stress biomarkers in exacerbated COPD patients compared to ones in the stable state. Methods: a systematic search in electronic databases Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar from inception to January 2021, was conducted using the terms: "oxidative stress", "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" or "COPD", "exacerbation". Results: 23 studies were selected for the systematic review. They showed the presence of an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant molecules in favor of the former in exacerbation of COPD. Conclusions: future studies using standardized methods in better characterized population are needed. However, this review suggests that targeting oxidative stress could be useful in monitoring the disease progression in COPD patients and especially in those more susceptible to exacerbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition characterized by chronic airway inflammation and lung parenchyma damage. Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress also play a role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Serum albumin is a negative acute-phase protein with antioxidant effects and an important marker of malnutrition. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate differences in serum albumin concentrations between patients with stable COPD and non-COPD subjects. Methods: A systematic search was conducted, using the terms "albumin" and "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" or "COPD", in the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science, from inception to May 2020. Results: Twenty-six studies were identified on a total of 2554 COPD patients and 2055 non-COPD controls. Pooled results showed that serum albumin concentrations were significantly lower in COPD patients (standard mean difference, SMD = −0.50, 95% CI −0.67 to −0.32; p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in SMD of serum albumin concentrations between COPD patients with forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1) < 50% and those with FEV1 > 50%. Conclusions: Our systematic review and meta-analysis showed that serum albumin concentrations are significantly lower in patients with stable COPD compared to non-COPD controls. This supports the presence of a deficit in systemic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant defense mechanisms in COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the blood concentrations of the total and reduced forms of the low-molecular-weight antioxidant thiol glutathione (GSH) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in comparison to healthy individuals. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception until June 2020. In the 18 studies identified (involving a total of 974 COPD patients and 631 healthy controls), the pooled reduced GSH concentrations were significantly lower in patients with COPD than controls (SMD  =  −3.04, 95% CI = −4.42 to −1.67; p  <  0.001). By contrast, the pooled total GSH concentrations were significantly higher in patients with COPD than controls (SMD = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.11 to 0.73; p = 0.009). Our meta-analysis showed that the blood concentrations of reduced GSH, even in the presence of higher total GSH concentrations, were significantly lower in patients with COPD when compared to healthy controls. This suggests that an impaired antioxidant defense system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major and increasing global health problem. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that participates in several pulmonary functions and it has been involved in oxidative stress, which plays essential roles in the pathogenesis of COPD. The current study aimed at establishing the levels of circulating serotonin in COPD, and investigating eventual relations between serotonin and oxidative stress markers.Methods: Whole blood serotonin was assessed in 43 consecutive patients with stable COPD and in 43 age and sex-matched healthy controls.Results: Serotonin blood levels were significantly higher in COPD patients than in controls (median 0.81 μmol/L, IQR: 0.61-4.02 vs 0.65 μmol/L, IQR: 0.53-1.39, p = 0.02). The univariate logistic regression analysis evidenced that serotonin levels are independently associated with presence of COPD (crude OR = 7.29, 95% CI: 1.296-41.05, p = 0.003) and such an association was confirmed also after adjusting for several confounders (OR 21.92, 95% CI 2.02-237.83; p = 0.011).Conclusions: Our study showed higher levels of circulating serotonin in COPD and an inverse correlation with the worsening of airway obstruction. Future studies are necessary to investigate the clinical utility of this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]