Smoking induces sex-specific changes in the small airway proteome

Introduction Cigarette smoke triggers many cellular and signaling responses in the lung and the resulting inflammation plays a central role in smoke-related lung diseases, such as COPD. We explored the effects of smoking on the small airway proteome in samples obtained by collection of exhaled particles with the aim to identify specific proteins dysregulated by smoking. Methods Exhaled particles were obtained from 38 current smokers, 47 former...