Genetic and biochemical mechanisms of involvement of antioxidant defense enzymes in the development of bronchial asthma

Recent achievements in the understanding genetic and biochemical mechanisms of the involvement of antioxidant defense enzymes in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma have been summarized and discussed in this review. We concluded that genetically determined abnormalities in the functioning of antioxidant defense enzymes may play a substantial role in the development of bronchial asthma. Variation in genes for antioxidant defense enzymes in combination with pro-oxidant effects of the environment are responsible for a imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant processes with the shift of the redox state towards increased free radical production and induction of oxidative stress in the respiratory system, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.