Endogenous modifiers of cigarette smoke exposure within the lung.

Cigarette smoke exposure generates both acute and chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates that are operative in numerous pulmonary disorders. Cigarette smoke induces a complex signaling cascade within the lung mediated by epithelial cells, lymphocytes, macrophages, and others. The net result is a destructive and self-perpetuating inflammatory environment that is capable of creating lung diseases such as emphysema, while simultaneously fueling lung tumor growth using both matrix-dependent and -independent means.