New Research Aims to Snuff Out Smoking-Related Diseases
Reported March 22, 2010
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — New preliminary research shows promising results in reducing lung inflammation caused by cigarette smoke. Researchers at the University of Melbourne, Australia used mice to show that, by blocking a certain protein, they can reduce lung inflammation associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and many other smoking-related illnesses.
Cigarette smoke causes the release of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which is the protein responsible for the growth and survival of COPD cells. The smoke also allows for the release of inflammatory cells, such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 which destroys lung tissue and results in emphysema.
Researchers exposed mice to the equivalent of nine cigarettes of smoke for four days and treated half of the mice with an anti-GM-CSF blocking agent. After four days, the lung tissue of each mouse was examined for the presence of inflammatory cells. Findings showed the blocking agent greatly reduced the presence of harmful white blood cells in the lungs and inhibited the release of MMP-12. The amount of inflammation in the lungs was significantly less compared to the untreated mice.
These results give new hope for fighting smoking related diseases. However, Ross Vlahos, Ph.D., senior research fellow with the lung disease research group at the University of Melbourne maintains, Our treatment deals with cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation involved in COPD, not cancer and other smoking-related ailments. Quitting remains the best and only cure for smoking-related lung disease.
SOURCE: The American Thoracic Societys American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, March 18, 2010
