Researchers measured nicotine, cotinine, and hydroxycotinine by mass spectrometry in supernatants of induced sputum from the SubPopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures In COPD Study. This ongoing, observational study includes participants who are never smokers, former smokers, and current smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
In total, 980 sputum supernatants were examined from 77 individuals who were healthy never smokers, 494 individuals who were former smokers, 233 of whom with COPD, and 396 active smokers, of whom 151 who have COPD. The study shows that airway nicotine, as well as its metabolites are measured in sputum supernatants, and can be biological markers of smoke exposure. Nicotine is present at physiologically relevant concentrations for extended periods in current smokers, that confirms the influence to cigarette-induced airways disease.
Reference: Esther CR Jr, O’Neal WK, Alexis NE, et al. Prolonged, Physiologically Relevant Nicotine Concentrations in the Airways of Smokers [published online ahead of print, 2022 Nov 7]. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2022;10.1152/ajplung.00038.2022. doi:10.1152/ajplung.00038.2022
