Stop smoking and quit smoking in the news ...
Current research suggests
that smoking increases the production of
osteopontin in the lungs, which contributes to the
development of smoking-related lung disease. The
related report by Prasse et al, "Essential role of
osteopontin in smoking-related interstitial lung diseases,"
appears in the May 2009 issue of The American Journal
of Pathology.
Nearly one billion people worldwide smoke tobacco products.
Long-term exposure to compounds found in smoke can lead
to both cardiovascular and lung disease. Although lung
exposure to cigarette smoke leads to immune cell recruitment
and tissue fibrosis, how cigarette smoke causes these
changes is largely unknown.
To determine if osteopontin, a molecule that attracts immune
cells, mediates cell recruitment in smokers, Prasse et al
compared osteopontin levels from smokers with different
types of lung diseases, healthy smokers, and healthy
non-smokers. They found high levels of osteopontin
expression in patients with interstitial lung disease,
whereas healthy smokers had lower levels, and healthy
non-smokers produced no osteopontin. Osteopontin expression
could be stimulated directly by nicotine treatment. In
addition, expressing osteopontin in rat lung resulted in
recruitment of immune cells, resulting in symptoms similar
to smoking-related interstitial lung diseases. These results
indicate that osteopontin may be pathogenic in
smoking-initiated lung disease.
The article from Prasse et al "suggest[s] that chronic
nicotine stimulation induced by cigarette smoking promotes
macrophage and Langerhans cell accumulation in the lung via
an increase in [osteopontin production]." Osteopontin and
cellular receptors for nicotine may therefore be new targets
for treating smoking related lung disease.
Prasse A, Stahl M, Schulz G, Kayser G, Qang L,
Ask K, Yalcintepe J, Kirschbaum A, Bargagli E, Zissel G,
Kolb M, Müller-Quernheim J, Weiss JM, Renkl AC: Essential
role of osteopontin in smoking-related interstitial lung
diseases. Am J Pathol 2009 174: 1683-1691 (The American
Journal of Pathology)
Concise
Encyclopedia
Complementary
therapies are offered in conjunction with our fellow
professionals. Where beneficial to you, we may suggest a
“combo” program, combining all or some of the therapies
below:
For more details or to book an appointment for Hypnosis, Reiki, NLP,
contact: us (some out of office hour appointments may be
available from time to time)
With best
wishes ...
Copyright, 2009: KK
More
Why
Stop Smoking Tips and Information
More
Stop
Smoking In The News
Mouth
Cancer risk of nicotine gum and lozenges ...
Smoking
and lung cancer, direct link ...
Stop making
excuses, stop smoking FAQS ...
|
