title: [Tumor necrosis factor as an early marker of inflammation in healthy smokers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Smoking creates an inflammation that leads to lose of lung function. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a cytokine that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There is a need to develop methods for an early detection of an impaired lung function in smokers. We aimed to show that smokers have higher levels of TNF-α in serum and exhaled breath condensate (EBC). We also analysed the influence of sex, age and weight on TNF-α, and determined the association between smoking, pulmonary function and TNF-α.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of smokers and non-smokers without any known disease. Respiratory function tests, EBC and blood samples were performed before smoking cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  SPSS 11.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients (60.8% smokers), 56.9% females, mean age 39.88 years old. Smokers initiated at an age of 15.77 years; the mean of cigarettes/day was 21.68. Significant differences in TNF-α serum levels between smokers and non-smokers were observed (P<.043). Differences did not reach significance for EBC. For tobacco consumption data, only age at smoking initiation and serum TNF-α levels had a correlation. A significant relation between TNF-α serum levels and forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smokers show higher TNF-α levels in serum. Number of years of smoking has an influence on TNF-α levels. There is a modest correlation between pulmonary function and plasma TNF-α levels, but not for EBC.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario de Móstoles, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. jmdpas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Díez Piña
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fernández Aceñero
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Llorente Alonso
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Díaz Lobato
authors.forename: Sagrario
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mayoralas Alises
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez Rodríguez
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alvaro Álvarez
authors.forename: Asunción
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flórez Horcajada
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez Rojo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha