Cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress in skeletal muscles of mice

Cigarette smoke (CS)-induced oxidative stress may cause muscle alterations in chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We sought to explore in AKR/J mice exposed to CS for 6 months and in control animals, levels of protein oxidation, oxidized proteins (immunoblotting, proteomics) and antioxidant mechanisms in both respiratory and limb muscles, body weight modifications, systemic inflammation, and lung structure. Compared to control mice, CS-exposed animals exhibited a reduction in body weight gain at 3 months and thereafter, showed lung emphysema, and exhibited increased oxidative stress levels in their diaphragms and gastrocnemius at 6 months. Proteins involved in glycolysis, ATP production and distribution, carbon dioxide hydration, and muscle contraction were carbonylated in respiratory and limb muscles. Blood tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels were significantly greater in CS-exposed mice than in control animals. In AKR/J mice, chronic exposure to CS induces lung emphysema concomitantly with greater oxidative modifications on muscle proteins in both respiratory and limb muscles, and systemic inflammation.