Impact of Smoking Cessation on Global Gene Expression in the Bronchial Epithelium of Chronic Smokers

Abstract

Cigarette smoke is the major cause of lung cancer and can interact in complex ways with drugs for lung cancer prevention or therapy. Molecular genetic research promises to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying divergent drug effects in smokers versus nonsmokers and to help in developing new approaches for controlling lung cancer. The present study compared global gene expression profiles (determined via Affymetrix microarray measurements in bronchial epithelial cells) between chronic smokers, former smokers, and never smokers. Smoking effects on global gene expression were determined from a combined analysis of three independent data sets. Differential expression between current and never smokers occurred in 591 of 13,902 measured genes (P < 0.01 and >2-fold change; pooled data)-a profound effect. In contrast, differential expression between current and former smokers occurred in only 145 of the measured genes (P < 0.01 and >2-fold change; pooled data). Nine of these 145 genes showed consistent and significant changes in each of the three data sets (P < 0.01 and >2-fold change), with eight being down-regulated in former smokers. Seven of the eight down-regulated genes, including CYP1B1 and three AKR genes, influence the metabolism of carcinogens and/or therapeutic/chemopreventive agents. Our data comparing former and current smokers allowed us to pinpoint the genes involved in smoking-drug interactions in lung cancer prevention and therapy. These findings have important implications for developing new targeted and dosing approaches for prevention and therapy in the lung and other sites, highlighting the importance of monitoring smoking status in patients receiving oncologic drug interventions.

Transcriptomic Studies of the Airway Field of Injury Associated with Smoking-Related Lung Disease

“…These genes were also found to be coordinately differentially expressed in the bronchial epithelium in an independent set of current and former smokers, suggesting that irreversible smoking-associated changes in gene expression could be used as a biomarker of prior exposure to tobacco smoke (4). The finding of irreversibly altered changes in bronchial airway gene expression among former smokers has been confirmed by two other groups using both microarray and SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) platforms (5,6).…”

Cigarette smoke differentially affects IL-13-induced gene expression in human airway epithelial cells

“…2007; Zhang et al. 2008). A long‐lasting effect after smoking cessation in asthmatics on corticosteroid responsiveness has also been suggested by the observation of an attenuated response to corticosteroid treatment in former smokers with asthma (Chaudhuri et al.…”

Genomics of Smoking Exposure and Cessation: Lessons for Cancer Prevention and Treatment

“…Another related study also reported in this issue of the journal was conducted by Zhang et al (7), who compared gene expression in cells obtained from bronchial brushes from never, current, and former smokers. Smoking effects on global gene expression were common across these studies.…”