Increasing evidence suggests that lycopene, the major carotenoid present in tomato, may be preventive against smoke-induced cell damage. However, the mechanisms of such a prevention are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of lycopene on the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 induced by cigarette smoke and the possible mechanisms implicated. Therefore, ...

BACKGROUND The damaging effects of cigarette smoke on the lungs are well known in terms of cancer risks. Additional molecular changes within the lung tissue can also occur as a result of exposure to cigarette smoke. The human β-defensin (hBD) class of antimicrobial peptides is the focus of our research. In addition to antimicrobial activity, β-defensins also have immunomodulatory functions. Ove...

Pathogenic factors associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as cigarette smoke, proinflammatory cytokines, and bacterial infections, can individually induce respiratory mucins in vitro and in vivo. Since co-presence of these factors is common in lungs of patients with COPD, we hypothesized that cigarette smoke can amplify mucin induction by bacterial exoproducts and pr...

Background Structural cells of the airways are subject to normal mechanical stretch during respiration [1]. Mechanical stretch acts as a mechanism of cell activation, and mechanotransduction pathways have been shown to activate pro-inflammatory genes [2]. Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections are a major cause of asthma exacerbations, and mechanical forces are likely to be more pronounced during as...

An unexpected observation among the COVID-19 pandemic is that smokers constituted only 1.4%–18.5% of hospitalized adults, calling for an urgent investigation to determine role smoking in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we show cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) increase ACE2 mRNA but trigger protein catabolism. BaP induces aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent upr...

background : the objective of this study was to describe cigarette smoking prevalence among adults in lebanon and to evaluate the profile of light cigarette smokers compared to never and heavy smokers. methods : data were taken from a cross-sectional study carried out from october 2009 to september 2010, using a multistage cluster sampling all over lebanon. lebanese residents aged 40 years and ...

aim and background: every year, smoking and its related diseases account for the death of at least four million people around the world. this risky behavior is growing among young educated people. the present study examined factors affecting medical students’ tendency of to smoke. methods and materials: this cross-sectional study included 305 medical students in isfahan university of medical sc...

background there is limited knowledge about the use of cigarettes by blacks outside the united states (u.s). nigeria creates an opportunity to explore smoking behaviours, smoking cessation (nicotine dependence) and use of cigarettes in a country that has a large black population outside the u.s.   methods we conducted three focus group discussions (fgds) involving twenty-four male migrant worke...

BACKGROUND Smoking is a leading cause of respiratory infections worldwide. Tobacco particulate matter disrupts iron homeostasis in the lungs and increases the iron content in the airways of smokers. The airway epithelia secrete lactoferrin to quench iron required for bacteria to proliferate and cause lung infections. We hypothesized that smokers would have increased bacterial growth and biofilm...

Previous studies demonstrated that CSE induces oxidative stress and its consequences on isolated mitochondria obtained from lung, heart and brain which may provide insight into the role of CSE in human health and disease. The present study was carried out to further characterize and compare toxic effect of CSE extract on isolated mitochondria obtained from either a directly contacting tissue (i...