Smoking, Infectious Diseases and Innate Immune (Dys)function

Neutrophils in Periodontal Inflammation

“…As we have recently reviewed (146), tobacco smoke exposure induces systemic neutrophilia (147) and exerts profound effects on human neutrophils including compromised neutrophil maturation (147–148) and inefficient effector function (148–150). Key to the development of destructive, inflammatory periodontal disease may be the tobacco-induced induction of neutrophil-derived elastase (151–152) and metalloproteinase release (148, 153–154); combined with compromised phagocytotic and bacteriocidal capacities, including diminished ability to kill P. gingivalis (148, 155–156) and impaired chemotactic responsiveness (150).…”