The Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Airway Epithelial Gene Expression

• Published in: Environmental health perspectives Vol. 106; no. Suppl 5; pp. 1197 - 1203
• Main Authors: Martin, Linda D., Krunkosky, Thomas M., Voynow, Judith A., Adler, Kenneth B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. National Institutes of Health. Department of Health, Education and Welfare 01.10.1998
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants; Cytokines; Endothelial cells; Enzymes; Epithelial cells; Epithelium - drug effects; Epithelium - metabolism; Gene expression; Gene Expression - drug effects; Gene expression regulation; Humans; Inflammation - etiology; Inflammation - genetics; Inflammation - metabolism; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - biosynthesis; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; Interleukin-6 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Neutrophils; Nitrogen - metabolism; Oxidants - toxicity; Oxidants and Signal Transduction; Oxygen; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Respiratory System - drug effects; Respiratory System - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Superoxides; Transcription Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 0091-6765; 1552-9924
• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.98106s51197

The body first encounters deleterious inhaled substances, such as allergens, industrial particles, pollutants, and infectious agents, at the airway epithelium. When this occurs, the epithelium and its resident inflammatory cells respond defensively by increasing production of cytokines, mucus, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). As inflammation in the airway increases, additional infiltrating cells increase the level of these products. Recent interest has focused on ROS/RNS as potential modulators of the expression of inflammation-associated genes important to the pathogenesis of various respiratory diseases. ROS/RNS appear to play a variety of roles that lead to changes in expression of genes such as interleukin-6 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1. By controlling this regulation, the reactive species can serve as exogenous stimuli, as intercellular signaling molecules, and as modulators of the redox state in epithelial cells. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms affected by ROS/RNS acting in these capacities should aid in the understanding of how stimulated defense mechanisms within the airway can lead to disease.