(건강) 흡연자들 중에 폐암에 안 걸린 사람들, 그 이유가 밝혀지다

출처: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34360865

9 hours ago: September 28, 2015

Rare 'healthy' smokers' lungs explained 흡연자들 중에 폐암에 안 걸린 사람들, 그 이유가 밝혀지다

By James GallagherHealth editor, BBC News website

The mystery of why some people appear to have healthy lungs despite a lifetime of smoking has been explained by UK scientists. 흡연자들 중에 평생 흡연을 했음에도 건강한 폐를 지니고 있는지 그 이유가 영국 과학자들에 의해 밝혀졌다.

The analysis of more than 50,000 people showed favourable mutations in people's DNA enhanced lung function and masked the deadly impact of smoking. 5만명 이상의 흡연자들을 대상으로 한 조사를 분석한 결과, DNA의 좋은 (방향의) 돌연변이가 발생해 폐의 기능을 강화하고 흡연의 나쁜 영향을 상쇄하였다.

The Medical Research Council scientists say the findings could lead to new drugs to improve lung function.

But not smoking will always be the best option, they say. 비흡연이 언제나 최고의 선택이다.

Many, but not all, smokers will develop lung disease. But so too will some who have never touched a cigarette in their lives. 전부는 아니더라도 많은 흡연자들은 폐 질환을 갖게 된다. 그러나 또한 담배 근처에도 안 간 사람들도 폐질환을 갖는다.

The researchers analysed the huge amount amount of health and genetic data from volunteers to the UK's Biobank project.

Breathe easily 편안하게 숨을 쉬어라

They looked at Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which leads to breathlessness, coughing and repeat chest infections.

The condition is thought to affect three million people in the UK and includes diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema.

By comparing smokers and non-smokers as well as those with the disease and without they discovered sections of our DNA that reduce the risk of COPD.

So smokers with "good genes" had a lower risk of COPD than those with "bad genes".

Prof Martin Tobin, one of the researchers at the University of Leicester, said the genes seemed to affect the way the lungs grow and respond to injury.

But he told the BBC News website: "There doesn't appear to be any kind of magic bullet that would give anyone guaranteed protection against tobacco smoke - they would still have lungs that were unhealthier than they would be had they been a non-smoker.

"The strongest thing that people can do to affect their future health in terms of COPD and also smoking-related disease like cancer and heart disease is to stop smoking."

Addiction 중독

The habit also increases the risk of heart disease and cancers, which are not considered in this study. 습관 역시 심장질환과 암의 위험을 상승시킨다.

The scientists also uncovered parts of the genetic code which were more common in smokers than non-smokers. 과학자들은 비흡연자들보다 흡연자들 안에서 더 흔한 유연자 정보 중 일부를 밝혀냈다.

They seem to alter the brain's function and how easily someone can become addicted to nicotine, although that still needs to be confirmed.

Prof Tobin said the findings offered "fantastic new clues about how the body works that we really had little idea about before and it's those things that are likely to lead to some really exciting breakthroughs for drug development."

Their findings were presented at a meeting of the European Respiratory Society and published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.

Ian Jarrold, the head of research at the British Lung Foundation, said: "These findings represent a significant step forward in helping us achieve a clearer picture about the fascinating and intricate reality of lung health.

"Understanding genetic predisposition is essential in not only helping us develop new treatments for people with lung disease but also in teaching otherwise healthy people how to better take care of their lungs."