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Impact of Tobacco Smoke and Nicotine Exposure on Lung Development

Kevin Gibbs1, Joseph M Collaco2, Sharon A McGrath-Morrow2

  • 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD.

Chest
|October 27, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal and postnatal tobacco and nicotine exposure harms lung development and immune responses in children, increasing risks for asthma and infections. Recent research highlights genetic and epigenetic factors influencing these long-term respiratory health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
  • Environmental Health Sciences
  • Developmental Toxicology

Background:

  • Prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke and nicotine negatively impacts lung development and immune function.
  • This exposure is linked to increased wheezing, viral infection susceptibility, and asthma symptoms in children.
  • Approximately 10% of US pregnancies involve in utero tobacco/nicotine exposure, posing significant health risks to neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent discoveries (last 5 years) on lung development and tobacco/nicotine exposure.
  • To focus on the impact of prenatal exposure on lung development, particularly nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
  • To examine the association between exposure and augmented infection risk, immune skewing, and allergic phenotypes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature (last 5 years) on tobacco/nicotine exposure and lung development.
  • Analysis of studies investigating effects on respiratory function, immune response, and asthma development.
  • Examination of genomic and epigenetic factors influencing long-term respiratory health.

Main Results:

  • Prenatal and postnatal exposure diminishes lung function and alters respiratory chemoreception in neonates.
  • Exposure is associated with a T-helper type 2 immune bias, increasing allergy and asthma risk.
  • Genomic and epigenetic factors, like DNA methylation changes, are identified as potential risk modifiers.

Conclusions:

  • Tobacco and nicotine exposure during critical developmental periods has lasting adverse effects on respiratory health.
  • Understanding genetic and epigenetic influences is crucial for mitigating risks associated with early-life exposure.
  • Secondhand smoke and nicotine exposure in childhood contribute to significant respiratory morbidities.

Keywords:
lung developmentsecondhand smoke exposurethirdhand smoke exposuretobacco smoke

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