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By Health Newswire reporters Health News.UK [7/02/03]

Japanese researchers suggest that a particular type of genetic make-up may make it difficult for smokers to quit their habit.

Writing in the journal Thorax, the team says that the presence of a CYP2A6del allele – a specific gene involved in processing nicotine in the body – may inhibit smokers from quitting. However, the researchers from Keio University in Tokyo say that it also appears to protect against the development of pulmonary emphysema.

They reached their conclusions after taking DNA from 203 current or ex-smokers with suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and from 123 non-smoking healthy volunteers with few respiratory symptoms.

After quizzing the subjects on their smoking habits and determining their CYP2A6 genotypes, the researchers found that heavy smokers tended to be less likely to have a CYP2A6del allele than light or non-smokers.

In addition, the percentage of subjects with a CYP2A6del allele was lower in ex-smokers or non-smokers than current smokers.

The study’s authors say that the CYP2A6del allele appears to restrict the amount of lifelong cigarette consumption in heavy smokers but not in light smokers. It also appears to inhibit smokers from quitting and acts as an intrinsic factor against the development of pulmonary emphysema.

“These findings suggest that determination of the genotype will be useful in efficiently withdrawing patients from nicotine dependence in smoking cessation protocols with nicotine-containing materials, and will give a new insight into the pathogenesis of smoking-induced pulmonary emphysema,” the authors conclude.
Source: Thorax

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