Resveratrol protects against cigarette smoke-induced oxidative damage and pulmonary inflammation

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of resveratrol on cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung injury. Experimental mice were administrated with 1 mg/kg or 3 mg/ kg resveratrol orally, 1 h prior to CS exposure (five cigarettes a day for 3 consecutive days). Airway inflammation and gene expression changes were assessed. CS exposure increased the number of pulmonary inflammatory cells, coupled with elevated production of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Resveratrol treatment decreased CS-induced lung inflammation. Resveratrol restored the activities of superoxide dismutase, GSH peroxidase, and catalase in CS-treated mice. CS significantly enhanced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and NF-κB DNA binding activity, which was impaired by resveratrol pretreatment. In addition, resveratrol promoted CS-induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and activation. Our results collectively indicate that resveratrol attenuates CS-induced lung oxidative injury, which involves decreased NF-κB activity and the elevated HO-1 expression and activity.