Cigarette smoke and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes elicit VEGF release through the p38 MAPK pathway in human airway smooth muscle cells and lung fibroblasts.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic factor known to be elevated in the sputum of asymptomatic smokers as well as smokers with bronchitis type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether acute exposure to cigarette smoke extract altered VEGF production in lung parenchymal cells.

Experimental approach

We exposed human airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC), normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) and small airways epithelial cells (SAEC) to aqueous cigarette smoke extract (CSE) in order to investigate the effect of cigarette smoke on VEGF expression and release.

Key results

Vascular endothelial growth factor release was elevated by sub-toxic concentrations of CSE in both ASMC and NHLF,

SUBMITTER: Volpi G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3101625 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature