DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2013.v01i05.006

Pages: 380-383

In the respiratory tract, NO˙ is generated enzymically by all three distinct isoforms of NO˙ synthase i.e. NOS-1, NOS-2 and NOS-3. Of these three forms NOS-2 activity is primarily regulated transcriptionally and is commonly induced by bacterial products and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Smokers are commonly characterized by an increased expression of NOS-2 within respiratory epithelial and inflammatory immune cells, and markedly elevated local production of NO˙. The present study was planned to study glutathione peroxidase and reductase as well as nitrosative balance during inflammation in smokers’. In this syudy 60 smokers with smoking history 20 pkts / year were included in the study.100 healthy non-smokers’ were served as controls .Their base line clinical examination, nitric oxide (NO˙), glutathione reductase (Rx), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and vitamin C were measured. The results indicate that the mean nitric oxide levels in the patients at base line were high (P< 0.001) than Controls. The glutathione reductase (Rx), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and vitamin C were low (P<0.001) in the smokers compared to controls. We found decreased levels of glutathione reductase (Rx), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and vitamin C and increased levels of nitric oxide (NO˙) in smokers. The nitric oxide level suggests that the total NO˙ production is high in smokers’. The present study confirmed alteration in GSH/GSSH redox ratio.