Revised: December 18, 2013
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: March 27, 2014
Cigarette smoking (CS) suppresses the immune system, and smoking is a well-known major risk factor for respiratory tract infections, including influenza infection. Both smoking cigarettes and passive smoking alter a wide range of immunological functions, including innate and adaptive immune responses. Past reviews on CS and innate immunity have been focused on the effects of CS on structural changes of the lung, as well as the effects on the function of alveolar macrophages, leukocytes, natural killer cells and dendritic cells. The study of innate immunity has developed rapidly in the last decade with the discovery of new receptors for virus recognition and interferon responses. This review aims to give a brief summary of recent findings on the suppressive effects of CS on the innate response to influenza virus, especially as it pertains to suppression of the function of pattern recognition receptors for influenza virus.
Core tip: Cigarette smoking (CS) alters a wide range of immunological functions, including innate and adaptive immune responses to viral infection. This review aims to give a brief summary of recent findings on the suppressive effects of CS on the innate response to influenza virus, especially as it pertains to suppression of the function of pattern recognition receptors for influenza virus. Studies on CS inhibition to innate response will be important in designing strategies for the development of novel treatments to mitigate the adverse consequences of CS and Flu infection.