Effect of tobacco smoke on serum antioxidant activity

: Oxidants of cigarette smoke and those released from phagocytes in smoker's lungs may inactivate alpha-1-antiproteinase. Thus, the "elastase-antielastase" imbalance may lead to lung tissue destruction and emphysema. Insufficient antioxidant protection, postulated by some authors might be an additional factor contributing to this process. The presented data on the influence of acute in vitro exposure to cigarette smoke in humans did not show difference in serum antioxidant activity (AOA) before and after the exposure. Attempts were made to evaluate the effect of whole cigarette smoke, its gas-phase and water-soluble phase on serum AOA in vitro. The results show that gas-phase leads to the depletion of serum AOA, whereas water-soluble phase exerts protective effect. Thus, at least part of oxidants might be inactivated in the stream of inhaled smoke. In conclusion, we doubt that serum AOA is influenced as a result of smoking and that the depletion of serum AOA is a decisive factor in the development of pulmonary emphysema.