Nicotine Boosts Production of Inflammation-causing Hormones, Worsens Kidney Disease

Article title: COX-2 derived prostaglandins as mediators of the deleterious effects of nicotine in chronic kidney disease

Authors: Sunil Rangarajan, Gabriel Rezonzew, Phillip Chumley, Huma Fatima, Mikhail Golovko, Wenguang Feng, Ping Hua, Edgar A. Jaimes

From the authors: “In these studies, we have shown that in [chronic kidney disease (CKD)], nicotine worsens renal injury at least in part by producing an imbalance in the production of prostaglandins. This imbalance in the production of prostaglandins likely plays a role in the deleterious effects of smoking on the progression of CKD.” 

This study is highlighted as one of February's "best of the best" as part of the American Physiological Society's APSselect program.