Key Enzyme in Lungs Destroyed by Smoking

Smoking damages a key enzyme in the lungs, said researchers from the Brookhaven National Laboratory, a discovery that may explain some of the effects produced by tobacco.

Using sophisticated imaging techniques, the team reported in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine that it found the level of monoamine oxidase A to be 50% lower in the lungs of smokers than in nonsmokers. The enzyme breaks down many compounds that lower blood pressure. The lowered levels may contribute to the hypertension seen in many smokers.