Cigarette smokers have exaggerated alveolar barrier disruption in response to lipopolysaccharide inhalation.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Cigarette smoke exposure is associated with an increased risk of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); however, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain largely unknown.

Objective

To assess pathways of lung injury and inflammation in smokers and non-smokers with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhalation using established biomarkers.

Methods

We measured plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) biomarkers of inflammation and lung injury in smokers and non-smokers in two distinct cohorts of healthy volunteers, one unstimulated (n=20) and one undergoing 50 μg LPS inhalation (n=30).

Measurements and main results

After LPS inhalation, cigarette smokers had increased alveolar-capillary membrane permeability as measured by BAL total p

SUBMITTER: Moazed F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4970978 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature