Alterations in components of the lung caused by oxidative stress
| Airway wall |
| Contraction of airway smooth muscle |
| Impairment of β‐adrenoceptor function |
| Stimulation of airway secretion |
| Pulmonary vascular smooth muscle |
| relaxation or contraction |
| Activation of mast cells |
| Alveolar epithelial cell layer |
| Increased permeability by detachment |
| Decreased adherence |
| Increased cell lysis |
| Lung matrix |
| Decreased elastin synthesis and fragmentation |
| Decreased collagen synthesis and fragmentation |
| Depolymerisation of proteoglycans |
| Antiproteases |
| Inactivation of α1‐proteinase inhibitor |
| Inactivation of secretory leukoprotease inhibitor |
| Pulmonary microcirculation |
| Increased permeability |
| PMN sequestration |
| Increased PMN adhesion to endothelium of arterioles and venules |
| Transcription factors |
| Switch-on of TNF‐α, IL‐8 and other inflammatory protein genes |
PMN: polymorphonuclear neutrophil
TNF‐α: tumour necrosis factor‐α
IL: interleukin
Modified from 6, 7