Increased bone resorption by long-term cigarette smoke exposure in animal model.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical and experimental studies have been attesting the deleterious effects of smoking mainly due to the stimulation of osteoclastogenesis and inhibition of osteoblastogenesis. However the physiological mechanisms that can explain these changes are not fully understood. AIMS: To evaluate the trabecular bone resorption effect caused by long-term exposure to cigarette smoke and the action of cytokines and reactive oxygen species involved in this process. METHODS: Sixty young adult C57BL/6 mice were allocated to two groups: control, 30 animals exposed to filtered air for 1, 3 and 6 months; and smoke, 30 animals exposed to cigarette smoke for 1, 3 and 6 months. Femoral and tibial extraction was performed to evaluate the bone mineral matrix, bone cytokines (Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand - RANKL and Osteoprotegerin - OPG) and oxidative stress markers (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances - Tbars). RESULTS: Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) generated changes in bone structural parameters in the 6th month of follow-up, demonstrating an evident bone loss; reduction in OPG/RANKL ratio from the 3rd month on and increase in Tbars in the first month, both closely related to the increase in osteoclastogenic activity and bone resorption. CONCLUSION: These findings reinforce the importance of CS-induced oxidative stress in bone compromising the bone cellular activities with a consequent impairment in bone turn over and changes in bone structure.

Decreased Bone Type I Collagen in the Early Stages of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Smoking is the main risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is known to have deleterious effects on bone metabolism. However, the effects on bone collagen matrix during the development of COPD are unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the temporal effect of cigarette smoke exposure on bone type I collagen during COPD development in a cigarette smoke-induced model. C57BL/6 mice were allocated to three groups: control (C), animals exposed to filtered air for 1, 3 and 6 months; cigarette smoke (S), animals exposed to cigarette smoke for 1, 3 and 6 months; provisional smoking (PS), animals exposed to cigarette smoke for 3 months, followed by another 3 months of filtered air exposure. Evaluation of the respiratory mechanics and alveolar enlargement were performed. Femoral and tibial extraction was also performed to evaluate the type I collagen by immunofluorescence and COL1A1 gene expression. Exposure to cigarette smoke led to an alveolar enlargement and progressive reduction in lung tissue resistance and elastance, progressive reduction of type I collagen and reduction in COL1A1 gene expression. Although we did not observe any improvement in the functional and histological parameters in the provisional smoking group, we detected an increase in COL1A1 gene expression. A worsening in bone collagen matrix is part of the initial physiopathological events during COPD development and the smoking cessation induced an evident recovery of COL1A1 expression, possibly to attempt at tissue repair.