[Tobacco smoking related DNA and protein adducts and risk of degenerative diseases].

Tobacco smoke contains many thousands of chemicals including a plethora of carcinogens. Most chemical carcinogens undergo metabolic activation leading to the formation of electrophilic metabolites. These highly reactive species interact with nucleophilic sites in DNA and cellular proteins. Thus as result of voluntary as well as passive tobacco smoking, the DNA and protein adducts are detected in human tissues and blood. Tobacco smoke induces also the oxidative DNA damage. This paper reviews the data indicating, that analysis of DNA and protein adducts provides mechanistic insight into association between tobacco smoke and neoplastic and degenerative diseases.