Smoking decreases the response of human lung macrophages to double-stranded RNA by reducing TLR3 expression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cigarette smoking is associated with increased frequency and duration of viral respiratory infections, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely defined. We investigated whether smoking reduces expression by human lung macrophages (Mø) of receptors for viral nucleic acids and, if so, the effect on CXCL10 production.

Methods

We collected alveolar macrophages (AMø) by bronchoalveolar lavage of radiographically-normal lungs of subjects undergoing bronchoscopies for solitary nodules (n = 16) and of volunteers who were current or former smokers (n = 7) or never-smokers (n = 13). We measured expression of mRNA transcripts for viral nucleic acid receptors by real-time PCR in those AMø and in the human Mø cell line THP-1 following phorbol myristate acetate/vitamin D3

SUBMITTER: Todt JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3599854 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature