Pulmonary antioxidant defense mechanisms.

Intrinsic enzymatic and non-enzymatic pulmonary antioxidant defense mechanisms undoubtedly protect the lung against oxidant-mediated environmental stresses and diseases. In addition, new ways of augmenting pulmonary antioxidant defenses are being developed which can be used to bolster disease-overwhelmed intrinsic lung defense mechanisms. Improved understanding of antioxidant defense mechanisms will increase our knowledge of the causes and suggest rational approaches for treating oxidant-induced lung injury.