Endogenous modifiers of cigarette smoke exposure within the lung

Abstract

Cigarette smoke exposure generates both acute and chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates that are operative in numerous pulmonary disorders. Cigarette smoke induces a complex signaling cascade within the lung mediated by epithelial cells, lymphocytes, macrophages, and others. The net result is a destructive and self-perpetuating inflammatory environment that is capable of creating lung diseases such as emphysema, while simultaneously fueling lung tumor growth using both matrix-dependent and -independent means.