Biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure.
Diseases and death caused by exposure to tobacco smoke have become the single most serious preventable public health concern. Thus, biomarkers that can monitor tobacco exposure and health effects can play a critical role in tobacco product regulation and public health policy. Biomarkers of exposure to tobacco toxicants are well established and have been used in population studies to establish public policy regarding exposure to second-hand smoke, an example being the nicotine metabolite cotinine, which can be measured in urine. Biomarkers of biological response to tobacco smoking range from those indicative of inflammation to mRNA and microRNA patterns related to tobacco use and/or disease state. Biomarkers identifying individuals with an increased risk for a pathological response to tobacco have also been described. The challenge for any novel technology or biomarker is its translation to clinical and/or regulatory application, a process that requires first technical validation of the assay and then careful consideration of the context the biomarker assay may be used in the regulatory setting. Nonetheless, the current efforts to investigate new biomarker of tobacco smoke exposure promise to offer powerful new tools in addressing the health hazards of tobacco product use. This review will examine such biomarkers, albeit with a focus on those related to cigarette smoking.
Division of Systems Biology, Food & Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA. Electronic address: william.mattes@fda.hhs.gov.
William
W
Mattes
Division of Systems Biology, Food & Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA.
Xi
X
Yang
Office of Science, Food & Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Michael S
MS
Orr
Office of Science, Food & Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Patricia
P
Richter
Division of Systems Biology, Food & Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA.
Donna L
DL
Mendrick
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000235:genetics; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D014026:Nicotiana
D015415:Biomarkers; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
Biomarkers; Biomarkers of exposure; Smoking; Tobacco; Tobacco Control Act