Smoking and lung gene expression 22/6/04. By PNAS Smoking appears to alter gene expression in lung cells, according to a new study. The findings may help researchers give smokers an early warning on the likelihood of developing lung cancer or other chronic pulmonary diseases.

After examining gene expression profiles of bronchial cells from 93 smokers and nonsmokers, Dr Avrum Spira of Boston Medical Center and colleagues found many genes exhibiting altered expression in smokers. These included increased expression of several oncogenes, as well as decreased expression of several tumour suppressor genes and genes that regulate airway inflammation. The scientists also identified genes in which expression changed depending on the cumulative number of years spent smoking.

Background: Types of gene involved in cancer

Expression levels for most genes among former smokers began to resemble those of 'never smokers' after two years. But several genes, including potential oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, failed to revert to never smoker levels.

In addition, a subset of smokers appeared to express some genes differently from most smokers, and one of these smokers developed lung cancer within six months of expression profiling. According to the researchers, the findings indicate that airway gene expression of smokers may serve as a biomarker for lung cancer.

The study is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Image credit: Anthea Sieveking

Further reading

Spira A, et al. (2004) Effects of cigarette smoke on the human airway epithelial cell transcriptome. PNAS, epub 21 June. Abstract . Full text .