TY - JOUR T1 - Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) alters the secretion profile of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - 1364 AU - Naseem Mushtaq AU - Richard Waite AU - Joe Aduse-Opoku AU - Jonathan Grigg Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/1364.abstract N2 - Background: In North America, a major cause of morbidity and mortality is due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an emerging epidemic that requires a better understanding of the pathobiology of the disease1. The single most important factor in the development of COPD is cigarette smoke; where the mechanisms and pathogenesis of the disease remain unclear. The airways of COPD patients are colonized with potential pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps)2. However, the effect of cigarette smoke on the cellular physiology of Ps is not known. Since Ps utilizes a variety of secreted virulence factors during infection, we sought to assess whether CSE affects protein secretion in the Ps strain PA14.Methods: An overnight growth of Ps strain PA14 (Ps) was inoculated into cell culture media 1) Ps only 2) Ps +0.1% CSE 3) Ps+0.5% CSE and 4) Ps+1% CSE and harvested (OD 0.8). The cultures were then filter sterilised and the proteins precipitated by acetone; culture secreted profiles were then determined by SDS-PAGE.Results: CSE increased the production of low molecular weight proteins in a dose dependent manner by the virulent Ps strain PA14 when stimulated with 0.1, 0.5 and 1% CSE as observed on an acrylamide gel.Conclusion: We have shown that CSE causes a significant physiological response in PA14 by up-regulating the production of it's secreted proteins. Enhanced production of these proteins can potentially cause severe damage to the upper and lower airways of smokers which can therefore influence the development of progressive COPD.1. Yoshida T et al. Physiol Rev. 2007 Jul;87(3):1047-82.2. Laan M et al. J Immunol. 2004 Sep 15;173(6):4164-70. ER -