Natural Defense Against Harmful Pathogens in Lungs Weakened by Cigarette Smoke

A new study has revealed that exposure to cigarette smoke might weaken immune cells' ability to remove bacterial infections from the lungs

A new study has revealed that exposure to cigarette smoke might weaken immune cells' ability to remove bacterial infections from the lungs, specifically nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI). The latter is a pathogen often associated with respiratory infections and the progression of respiratory disease.

NTHI has been found to cause invasive diseases such as meningitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, and bronchitis.

Health Hazards of Smoking Cigarettes
Smoking causes many diseases and affects the overall health of smokers.

It is also the pathogen most frequently isolated in the respiratory tract of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis.

Alveolar macrophages are part of the lungs' innate defense system and they play an essential role in the clearance of bacterial infections.

The research team has found that cigarette smoke may disrupt the capability of alveolar macrophages to clear NTHI from the lungs.

Smoking and Cancer - Causes - Passive Smoking - FAQs - Video
Smoking is the most important preventable cause of cancer in the world.

During the study, the research team from Spain and UK observed the effect of cigarette smoke in macrophage cell lines and human alveolar macrophages obtained from smokers and patients with COPD and found that cigarette smoke extract impaired the alveolar macrophage process.

Additionally, cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract were treated with glucocorticoid, an anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to treat respiratory conditions, and results showed that the drug did not compensate for the impairment to the alveolar macrophage process caused by the cigarette smoke.

History of Tobacco
Encyclopedia section of medindia briefs you about the History of Tobacco

"This study revealed novel effects of cigarette smoking on alveolar macrophage physiological functions which could contribute to lung bacterial colonization by opportunistic pathogens, such as NTHI," said the researchers.

The study appears in journal Infection and Immunity.

Lung Cancer - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Lung cancer is a malignant tumor in the lung tissues. Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer with symptoms like recurrent respiratory diseases.

Source-ANI
RAS