Cigarette smoke is a mixture of chemicals that cause direct or indirect oxidative stress in different cell lines. We investigated the effect of nonfractionated cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on protein carbonylation in human THP-1 cells. Cells were exposed to various concentrations (2.5-20%) of CSE for 30 min, and protein carbonylation was assessed by use of the sensitive 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine immuno-dot blot assay. CSE-induced protein carbonylation exhibited a dose-response relation with CSE concentrations. However, with prolonged exposure to CSE, significant decrements were observed when compared with the 30 min exposure. Cotreatment of THP-1 cells with antioxidants (N-acetyl-cysteine, S-allyl-cysteine, and alpha-tocopherol) and copper(II) ion chelators (d-penicillamine) during CSE exposure significantly reduced protein carbonylation, whereas cotreatment with antioxidants (vitamin C and trolox) and a metal chelator (EDTA), iron chelator (1,10-phenanthroline), or copper(I) chelator (neocuprin) did not decrease CSE-induced protein carbonylation in THP-1 cells. These results suggest that protein carbonylation is induced by CSE in THP-1 cells via a copper(II)-catalyzed reaction and not an iron-catalyzed reaction. Furthermore, the copper(II) ions involved in this CSE-induced protein carbonylation are derived from the intracellular pool, not via uptake from the extracellular medium. We speculate that natural copper(II) chelators may prevent some of the health problems caused by cigarette smoking, including lung disease, renal failure, and diabetes.