Nicotine and inflammatory neurological disorders.
Cigarette smoke is a major health risk factor which significantly increases the incidence of diseases including lung cancer and respiratory infections. However, there is increasing evidence that smokers have a lower incidence of some inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Nicotine is the main immunosuppressive constituent of cigarette smoke, which inhibits both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Unlike cigarette smoke, nicotine is not yet considered to be a carcinogen and may, in fact, have therapeutic potential as a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory agent. This review provides a synopsis summarizing the effects of nicotine on the immune system and its (nicotine) influences on various neurological diseases.
Piao
Wen-Hua
WH
Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA. wenhuapiao@hotmail.com
Campagnolo
Denise
D
Dayao
Carlos
C
Lukas
Ronald J
RJ
Wu
Jie
J
Shi
Fu-Dong
FD
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine