The effect of emphysema induced by tobacco smoke exposure and different rearing ways on the atherosclerosis formation

Objective To explore the relationship and its mechanism of emphysema induced by different ways of rearing and tobacco smoke exposure with the atherosclerosis formation. Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=8, each): a normal diet + tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) group, a fat-rich diet + TSE group, a limit intake + TSE group, a normal diet group, a fat-rich diet group, and a limit intake group for 24 weeks.Lee's index, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin (APN) levels, mean linear intercept (MLI), mean alveoli number (MAN), the aortic pathology change, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of aorta, and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) level were collected. Results Tobacco smoke exposure, fat-rich diet, and limit intake increased the severity of emphysema.The microscopic features of aorta showed an early atherosclerosis in the tobacco smoke exposure groups, but no atherosclerosis in the non-smoking groups.Interactions between tobacco smoke exposure and different ways of rearing on serum APN level (F=10.68, P<0.05) were found.In the tobacco smoke exposure groups, Pearson correlation analysis showed positive correlations of aortic VEGF and BMP-2 levels with MLI, serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels (r=0.431, 0.471, 0, 448, 0.449, 0.428, 0.447, all P<0.05), and an negative correlation with MAN (r=-0.411, -0.442, P<0.05). Conclusions Both tobacco smoke exposure and different ways of rearing can influence the formation of emphysema.There is a positive correlation between the severities of emphysema and atherosclerosis, and systemic inflammation may be involved. Key words: Tobacco smoke pollution; Pulmonary emphysema; Atherosclerosis; Feeding methods