Cigarette smoke blocks the self-healing processes of the lungs, which further leads to the development of diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This is reported by scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen (Germany), whose study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The study, which scientists from the above-named center conducted together with colleagues from other countries of the world, showed that cigarette smoke prevents the lungs from repairing themselves from certain injuries, and that is why chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) so often occurs in smokers..

In a healthy person, WNT / beta-catenin signaling pathways are responsible for pulmonary homeostasis. Until recently, it was not clear to science why these signaling pathways do not work in patients with COPD.. It turned out that an important role in this phenomenon is played by one of the Frizzled receptor protein molecules called Frizzled 4. This receptor molecule is found on the surface of lung cells that regulate the self-healing process.

However, under the influence of cigarette smoke, Frizzled 4 disappears from the surface, and cell growth is suspended.. When examining the lungs of smokers, researchers found that they had significantly fewer Frizzled 4 receptors than nonsmokers.. Then the researchers were able to prove in cell cultures and models that suppression of Frizzled 4 signals in cells leads to a decrease in the activity of the WNT / beta-catenin signaling pathways, due to which the healing process of the lungs and their recovery are suspended.

aspekty. net.