title: Cardiovascular remodeling induced by passive smoking.
abstract: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death in many developed countries. The major risk factors for CHD are smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and lack of physical activity. Importantly, passive smoke also increases the risk for CHD. The mechanisms involved in the effects of passive smoke in CHD are complex and include endothelial dysfunction, lipoprotein modification, increased inflammation and platelet activation. Recently, several studies have shown that exposure to tobacco smoke can result in cardiac remodeling and compromised cardiac function. Potential mechanisms for these alterations are neurohumoral activation, oxidative stress, and MAPK activation. Although the vascular effects of cigarette smoke exposure are well known, the effects of tobacco smoking on the heart have received less attention. Therefore, this review will focus on the recent findings as to the effects of passive smoking in acute and chronic phases of vascular and cardiac remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP - São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Minicucci
authors.forename: Paula S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Sergio A R
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: Leonardo A M
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zornoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000378:metabolism; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000276:immunology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014026:Nicotiana
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D011494:Protein Kinases; D045726:Metalloproteases