Cardiac remodeling induced by smoking: concepts, relevance, and potential mechanisms

Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets. 2012 Dec;11(6):442-7. doi: 10.2174/187152812803589958.

Abstract

Cardiac or ventricular remodeling is characterized by molecular, cellular, and interstitial alterations that lead to changes in heart size, mass, geometry and function in response to a given insult. Currently, tobacco smoke exposure is recognized as one of these insults. Indeed, tobacco smoke exposure induces the enlargement of the left-sided cardiac chambers, myocardial hypertrophy, and ventricular dysfunction. Potential mechanisms for these alterations include hemodynamic and neurohormonal changes, oxidative stress, inflammation, nitric oxide bioavailability, matrix metalloproteinases and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. This review will focus on the concepts, relevance, and potential mechanisms of cardiac remodeling induced by tobacco smoke.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Smoking / adverse effects*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / etiology
  • Ventricular Remodeling*

Substances

  • Nitric Oxide
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases