... machinery, allowing the formation of glutathione (GSH) by the action of the rate-limiting enzyme, γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS). The activity of γ-GCS is irreversibly blocked by L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine ... death, on the other hand, is relatively quick and violent, characterized by the swelling of the cytoplasm, the rupturing of cell membranes, the dilation of the mito-chondria and the disintegration ... airway epithelium can adversely affect its normal physiology and regulatory processes [6,7]. The major functions of the airway epithelium include the following: i) it is a dynamic physiological...