RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Altered expression of CuZn-SOD and thioredoxin correlate with the histopathological features in small airways of patients with severe COPD JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP PA3922 DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA3922 VO 46 IS suppl 59 A1 Popa, Daniel A1 Lejonberg, Gustaf A1 Erjefält, Jonas A1 Olejnicka, Beata YR 2015 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3922.abstract AB There is strong evidence that tobacco smoke-induced COPD is associated with an altered redox balance in intracellular/extracellular compartments and an uncontrolled immune-inflammatory response in genetically predisposed individuals. Primary line antioxidants (superoxide dismutases, SODs, catalase, CAT) and the scavenging thioredoxin (TRX) system play pivotal roles in the maintenance of redox homeostasis. Here we have investigated wherever any relationship exists between the density of immunoreactivity to SODs/CAT/TRX and lymphoid aggregates (LAs), macrophages (MQ) or neutrophils infiltration in COPD.Methods: The micro-localizations of MQ, neutrophils, LAs, SODs, CAT, and TRX were investigated by immunocytochemistry using paraffin-embedded lung sections from non-smokers (n=10) and COPD patients (n=10). Histological/immunohistochemical analyses and quantification were performed using the same Region-of-Interest (ROI) in different anatomical compartments: small airway, peripheral pulmonary artery, and alveolar parenchyma.Results: The percentage of CuZn-SOD/TRX immunoreactivity was significantly higher (p<0.05) in well preserved bronchiolar epithelium in severe COPD. Injured organelles resulted in cellular decompartmentalization which was followed by SODs inactivation in damaged ROI. Statistically significant correlation was found between LAs/CuZn-SOD/TRX and MQ/Mn-SOD/EC-SOD within the small airways.In summary, the data suggest that these redox-regulating proteins are highly expressed in severe COPD and there is a relationship between the expression of up-down regulation of antioxidants and the local LAs, MQ, and neutrophils infiltration.