title: Effect of smoking cessation on markers of inflammation and endothelial cell activation among individuals with high risk for cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively determine the effect of smoking cessation on markers of inflammation and endothelial cell activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male and 22 female smokers of >7 cigarettes daily, aged 32-64 years with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or additional risk factors to smoking, participated in a program of smoking cessation with a follow-up period of 1 year. Cessation was validated by carbon monoxide measurement in expired breath, and 41 of the patients completed the study (17 quitters and 24 non-quitters). Plasma samples were drawn at baseline and after 1 year, and inflammatory markers were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated at baseline and 1 year in 6 quitters and 6 smokers and mRNA levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor x (TNFx) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) were analyzed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our main findings were: (i) While the concentration of soluble (s) ICAM-1 decreased in quitters, it increased in smokers, with a significant difference in changes between the groups (p=0.04). (ii) While there was only minor change in mRNA levels of IL-8 in smokers, those who stopped smoking showed a decrease in the gene expression of IL-8 (p < 0.09; comparing difference in changes). (iii) Concentrations of the other measured parameters (E-selectin, IL-6, sCD40 ligand, TNFx, von Willebrand factor, and C-reactive protein) were unchanged during follow-up in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking cessation induced a reduction in ICAM-1, suggesting a novel mechanism for the rapid reduction in the risk of CVD following smoking cessation.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Internal Medicine Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. bente.halvorsen@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lund Sagen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueland
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aukrust
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tonstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein