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World J Immunol. Mar 27, 2014; 4(1): 20-25
Published online Mar 27, 2014. doi: 10.5411/wji.v4.i1.20
Cigarette smoking and innate immune responses to influenza infection
Wenxin Wu, Jordan P Metcalf
Wenxin Wu, Jordan P Metcalf, Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States
Jordan P Metcalf, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States
Author contributions: Wu W and Metcalf JP wrote the review.
Supported by The Oklahoma Health Research Program from Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, to Wu W; and by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, No. 1U19 AI62629, to Metcalf JP
Correspondence to: Wenxin Wu, PhD, Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 800 Research Pkwy, RP1, Rm 425, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States. wenxin-wu@ouhsc.edu
Telephone: +1-405-2711966 Fax: +1-405-2715440
Received: October 31, 2013
Revised: December 18, 2013
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: March 27, 2014
Processing time: 146 Days and 13.5 Hours
Abstract

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.

Keywords: Smoking; Influenza; Innate immunity; Virus; Pattern recognition receptors; Immune response

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.