Smoking-induced gene expression changes in the bronchial airway are reflected in nasal and buccal epithelium

Abstract excerpt

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable death and a significant cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Prior studies have demonstrated that smoking creates a field of molecular injury throughout the airway epithelium exposed to cigarette smoke. We have previously characterized gene expression in the bronchial epithelium of never smokers and identified the gene...