Smoking triggers neutrophil response that may link lungs to heart disease

AI Summary

Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have uncovered a novel immune system pathway that links cigarette smoking to increased cardiovascular disease risk. Smoking triggers activation of immune cells that cause widespread inflammation and promote plaque buildup in arteries.

Scientists at the University of Oklahoma have identified a previously unrecognized immune system pathway that helps explain how cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The findings, published in Circulation Research, show that cigarette smoke activates immune cells that trigger widespread inflammation throughout the body, accelerating the buildup of plaque in arteries.