Breath condensate hydrogen peroxide correlates with both airway cytology and epithelial lining fluid ascorbic acid concentration in the horse.
Abstract: The relationship between hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration in expired breath condensate (EBC) and cytology of the respiratory tract obtained from tracheal wash (TW) or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and epithelial lining fluid (ELF) antioxidant status is unknown. To examine this we analysed the concentration of H2O2 in breath condensate from healthy horses and horses affected by recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), a condition considered to be an animal model of human asthma. The degree of airway inflammation was determined by assessing TW inflammation as mucus, cell density and neutrophil scores, and by BAL cytology. ELF antioxidant status was determined by measurement of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbate, reduced and oxidised glutathione, uric acid and alpha-tocopherol concentrations. RAO-affected horses with marked airway inflammation had significantly higher concentrations of breath condensate H2O2 than control horses and RAO-affected horses in the absence of inflammation (2.0 +/- 0.5 micromol/l. 0.4 +/- 0.2 micromol/l and 0.9 +/- 0.2 micromol/l H2O2, respectively; p < 0.0001). The concentration of breath condensate H2O2 was related inversely to the concentration of ascorbic acid in ELF (r = -0.80; p < 0.0001) and correlated positively with TW inflammation score (r = 0.76, p < 0.0001) and BAL neutrophil count (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001). We conclude that the concentration of H2O2 in breath condensate influences the ELF ascorbic acid concentration and provides a non-invasive diagnostic indicator of the severity of neutrophilic airway inflammation.
Publication Date: 2004-04-24 PubMed ID: 15104214DOI: 10.1080/10715160310001638047Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explores the link between hydrogen peroxide levels in breath condensate and the tracheal cytology and antioxidant status in epithelial lining fluid in horses. The objective is to use hydrogen peroxide levels to non-invasively evaluate intensity of neutrophilic airway inflammation.
Research Methodology and Objectives
- The main objective was to understand the relationships between hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration in expired breath condensate (EBC), cytology of the respiratory tract from tracheal wash (TW) or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and antioxidant status of epithelial lining fluid (ELF).
- The H2O2 concentration in EBC was analyzed specifically from healthy horses and those afflicted by recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), a disorder seen as a animal equivalent of human asthma.
- The researchers aimed to verify if the H2O2 concentration in EBC correlates with the level of inflammation, identified through TW markers such as mucus, cell density, and neutrophil scores, plus BAL cytology and certain antioxidant concentrations in ELF.
Research Findings
- The research found that horses suffering from RAO with significant airway inflammation had considerably higher H2O2 concentrations in their breath condensate as compared to healthy horses or those with RAO but without inflammation.
- The concentration of H2O2 was found to be inversely proportional to the concentration of ascorbic acid (a type of antioxidant) in ELF. This means that when hoarses had high levels of H2O2, their level of ascorbic acid was low.
- The presence of H2O2 was positively linked with TW inflammation scores and BAL neutrophil count, suggesting that higher levels of H2O2 were associated with increased inflammation and immune response.
Conclusions and Implications
- The researchers concluded that the concentration of H2O2 in breath condensate can influence the concentration of ascorbic acid in the ELF and serve as a non-invasive diagnostic indicator of neutrophilic airway inflammation severity.
- The results of this research are significant for improving understanding and potential treatment of respiratory conditions like asthma, not just in horses but potentially in human patients as well.
Cite This Article
APA
Deaton CM, Marlin DJ, Smith NC, Smith KC, Newton RJ, Gower SM, Cade SM, Roberts CA, Harris PA, Schroter RC, Kelly FJ.
(2004).
Breath condensate hydrogen peroxide correlates with both airway cytology and epithelial lining fluid ascorbic acid concentration in the horse.
Free Radic Res, 38(2), 201-208.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10715160310001638047 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK. chris.deaton@aht.org.uk
MeSH Terms
- Airway Obstruction / diagnosis
- Airway Obstruction / pathology
- Animals
- Ascorbic Acid / analysis
- Ascorbic Acid / metabolism
- Breath Tests / methods
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Bronchoscopy
- Cell Count
- Dehydroascorbic Acid / analysis
- Dehydroascorbic Acid / metabolism
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Disease Models, Animal
- Glutathione / analysis
- Glutathione / metabolism
- Horses
- Hydrogen Peroxide / analysis
- Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
- Inflammation / diagnosis
- Inflammation / metabolism
- Mucus / cytology
- Neutrophils / cytology
- Respiratory Mucosa / chemistry
- Respiratory System / pathology
- Spectrophotometry
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Bullone M, Lavoie JP. The Contribution of Oxidative Stress and Inflamm-Aging in Human and Equine Asthma. Int J Mol Sci 2017 Dec 5;18(12).
- Niedzwiedz A, Borowicz H, Januszewska L, Markiewicz-Gorka I, Jaworski Z. Serum 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine as a marker of DNA oxidative damage in horses with recurrent airway obstruction. Acta Vet Scand 2016 Jun 7;58(1):38.
- Niedzwiedz A, Jaworski Z. Oxidant-antioxidant status in the blood of horses with symptomatic recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). J Vet Intern Med 2014 Nov-Dec;28(6):1845-52.
- Araneda OF, Tuesta M. Lung oxidative damage by hypoxia. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2012;2012:856918.
- Barbosa B, Santi TF, Rodak AC, Nogara MF, Leite LMB, Weber SH, Niels C, Daros RR, Michelotto PV. Intraday and Interday Evaluation of pH and Hydrogen Peroxide in the Exhaled Breath Condensate of Horses Using A Portable Device. ACS Omega 2025 Oct 21;10(41):48412-48417.
- Hansen S, Otten ND, Ceron JJ, González-Arostegui LG, Peres-Rubio C. Redox Biomarker Variations With Severity of Asthma in Horses Across Different Sample Types. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70031.
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