The effect of chronic cigarette smoking on microvascular function, insulin resistance and inflammatory state

Cigarette smoking, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, can induce proinflammatory state and endothelial injury - the earliest manifestations of atherosclerotic changes. The aim of the study was to assess cutaneous vascular reactivity, insulin resistance and circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines in 20 healthy habitual smokers and 24 healthy non-smokers. The groups were matched for age. We used laser Doppler imaging with iontophoretic application of 1% acethylcholine solution and local heating 44 °C on the dorsum of the palm. Serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 were measured by xMAP technology. Insulin resdistance was assessed by HOMA-IR method. Local heating-induced neurally-mediated and endotheliumdependent vasodilatation was significantly decreased in elderly smokers vs. elderly non-smokers (p < 0.05). Young smokers showed significantly reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilatation vs. young non-smokers (p < 0.05). Ach-induced vasodilatation was significantly decreased in the elderly smokers and elderly non-smokers groups vs. young smokers and young non-smokers groups (p
< 0.05). The level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha was significantly higher in both groups of smokers vs. non-smokers (p < 0.05). The level of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was slightly higher in smokers. Only the elderly smokers group exhibited a tendency to higher values of HOMA-IR. Data showed that long-lasting cigarette smoking significantly impairs peripheral microvascular function due to increased inflammatory response.