Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure
Published on: August 25, 2017
Changes in blood ROS, e-NO, and some pro-inflammatory mediators in bronchial secretions following erdosteine or
R W Dal Negro1, M Visconti, C Micheletto
1Lung Department, Orlandi General Hospital, Bussolengo, Verona, Italy. uls00030@ulss22.ven.it
Unlabelled:
Anti-oxidant interventions consist in reduction of direct oxidant damage by removing oxidant agents and/or by supplementing reducing agents with anti-oxidant effects.
Aim:
Aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-oxidant effects of erdosteine, a recent drug currently used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for its rheological activity. At present, no data are available on current smokers with COPD to our knowledge.
Methods:
Two groups of 10 persons matched for sex; age (65.0 yr+/-8.4 S.D. and 65.3 yr+/-6.5 S.D.); basal FEV1 (88.7% pred +/-6.8 S.D. and 85.2% pred +/-5.8 S.D.); and cigarette consumption (25.4 pack/yr+/-3.5 S.D. and 28.1 pack/yr+/-2.3 S.D.) entered a controlled, double blind, parallel groups study. They were randomized to receive erdosteine 600 mg daily or placebo for 10 days. IL-6; IL-8; TNFalpha were measured in bronchial secretions in bsln, after 4, 7, and 10 days of Erdosteine or placebo; e-NO and both ROS and 8-Isoprostane in blood were also measured at the same experimental times.
Statistics:
ANOVA: a t-test with Bonferroni correction; p<0.05 was accepted.
Results:
Blood ROS and IL-8 in bronchial secretions dropped significantly following erdosteine starting from day 4 (both p<0.01), while 8-isoprostane drop was significant only after day 10 (p<0.02), and the e-NO decrease proved evident but not significant. No significant changes were observed in the placebo group.
Conclusions:
Erdosteine affects substantially some pro-inflammatory cytokines specifically involved in oxidative stress in current smokers with mild COPD. Effects appeared differently time-dependent. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these pilot data and to assess their long-term clinical relevance.
Related Concept Videos
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction