NAC protects lungs from damageN‑acetyl‑L‑cysteine protects rat lungs and RLE‑6TN cells from cigarette smoke‑induced oxidative stress.
We examined how N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) impacts lung health in the context of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by exposing rats to cigarette smoke (CS) over a four-week period. This study set up a model of lung injury to assess the damage caused by CS and the protective effects of NAC.
After exposure, we observed significant changes in the lung tissue, including widening of the alveolar walls and increased inflammatory cell infiltration, suggesting serious oxidative injury. We found that NAC treatment helped counteract some of the harmful effects, reducing markers of oxidative stress like malondialdehyde while boosting protective enzymes such as superoxide dismutase.
Additionally, we noted that in lung cells exposed to cigarette smoke, NAC also mitigated apoptosis, which is a form of programmed cell death induced by oxidative stress. This underscores the potential for NAC as a therapeutic agent to replenish the body’s glutathione and aid in protecting lung health amidst the damaging effects of smoking.
Overall, our findings point to NAC's beneficial role in shielding lung tissues from damage due to cigarette smoke, reinforcing its use as an antioxidant in managing COPD.