Cigarette smoke-induced autophagy: a deadly association?

Cigarette smoke, and the mutagen agents it contains, is a universal conveyor of DNA alterations in the pulmonary airway cells, ultimately leading to cancer. In addition, the thousands xenobiotics and pro-oxidant agents contained in smoke participate in the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and emphysema by inducing cell death, chronic inflammation, and deregulated extracellular matrix degradation and remodeling.