Cigarette smoke may contribute to lung inflammation through a new chemical pathway
Thursday, September 2, 2010 - 20:28
in Health & Medicine
Cigarette smoke shuts off a key enzyme in airways that regulates the body's response to inflammation, according to new findings. Researchers say smoke inhibits the enzyme, called Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase (LTA4H), causing it to fail in its job of shutting down white blood cells following a successful response to inflammation.