Figure 2.

CS exposure affects expression of antioxidant genes. Differentiated human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) from non-COPD subjects (n = 4 donors) were exposed to smoke of one Marlboro Red cigarette (CS) or a mixture of acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde (at concentrations equivalent to one cigarette) or air (control), under a continuous flow system using a puff-like exposure protocol. Following recovery for 6 h or 24 h, whole cell lysates were harvested for transcript analysis of oxidative stress markers (A) SOD1 and (B) SOD2. Data are presented as mean fold change compared to air control ± s.e.m. The mean values of biological triplicate results per independent donor are represented by open circles, triangles, squares, or diamonds. Statistical differences between CS vs. air and a mixture of aldehydes vs. air were tested using a two-tailed paired parametric t-test. Statistical significance is indicated as * p < 0.05 vs. air (control).