Vessel-damaging activation of the 'intracellular waste disposal' mechanism found in smokers

"The autodigestion in vessels' endothelial cells works like an intracellular waste disposal," says Bernhard. Damaged cell components are caught, digested and recycled. Usually this is not a problem as new cell components are then created again. However, in smokers this process of digestion is constantly activated, and it leads to an excessive reaction. As a result the vessels' endothelial cells are lastingly damaged and vascular inflammations and damage occurs. In addition important properties of the endothelial cells are damaged. Bernhard says: "When the cell is intact, it impairs for example, the accumulation of thrombocytes. Furthermore it is involved, amongst others, in the regulation of blood flow." If this system is damaged, then negative effects occur, such as atherosclerosis.

There are approximately one billion smokers in the world.

The details of the study, now available in the publication Cardiovascular Research, are also going to be presented during the 9^th Congress of the International Society for the Prevention of Tobacco Induced Diseases, which is taking place from the 21^st to 23^rd September 2011 in Vienna.

"Two worlds will collide there," says Bernhard. "One which promotes that we should only support people in giving up [smoking], and another which is of the opinion that we also have to help those who cannot manage to give up smoking." The study's results are heading precisely in this direction. The next step is an in vivo test on animal models or in pathology samples. "The aim is to finally find a solid marker which reveals how much smoke a person has already been exposed to and the possibility of investigating how much has already accumulated in the cell."