Oxidative stress and antioxidants in interstitial lung disease.

A. Bast*, A.R. Weseler, G.R.M.M. Haenen, G.J.M. den Hartog

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The cause of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) such as lung fibrosis or sarcoidosis is still largely unknown. Pharmacotherapeutic treatment in ILD lacks a firm mechanistic molecular basis. A striking paradox is that ILDs result in a shortage of oxygen and that at the same time reactive oxygen species are responsible for the tissue damage in ILDs. The realization of the importance of reactive oxygen species offers new possibilities for therapeutic interventions. RECENT FINDINGS: Remarkably, the two drugs that have been shown to be the most effective ones in the treatment of lung fibrosis are in fact antioxidants that protect against the toxicity of oxygen. Redox cycling drugs that are notorious oxygen radical generators may also cause ILD. Apart from lung fibrosis, sarcoidosis also has recently been associated with the occurrence of oxidative stress. SUMMARY: The limited number of ILD patients necessitates multicenter trials to obtain enough power to reach clinically relevant data. The specific fibrotic toxicity of O2 might be a lead in the development of new therapies and of suggesting optimal antioxidant dietary regimes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)516-520
JournalCurrent Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine
Volume16
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2010

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