A technique that reverses lung damage from tobacco smoke by blocking an inflammatory protein has been found in a mouse study. Researchers state that these findings could do a lot of benefit to patients with COPD and smoking related lung diseases. Lung inflammation, destroyed lung tissue that further leads to emphysema takes place by granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) which is released from the effect of tobacco smoke.

Researchers noticed that if GM-CSF was blocked then inflammation and lung damage from tobacco smoke could be tackled.

Ross Vlahos, Ph. D., a senior research fellow with the lung disease research group at the University of Melbourne says, "Cigarette smoke-exposed mice that were treated with an anti-GM-CSF had significantly less lung inflammation in comparison to untreated mice. This indicates that GM-CSF is a key mediator in smoke-induced lung inflammation and its neutralization may have therapeutic implications in diseases such as COPD."

For conducting a study on mice, half were given the GM-CSF blocking agent and another 50 per cent were used as controls.

Researchers examined mice that were killed after exposing them to tobacco smoke that was equivalent to nine cigarettes daily for four days. They found that harmful white blood cells that infiltrate the lung after smoke exposure, as well as inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were reduced by giving the GM-CSF blocking agent. Experts have stated that the best way to stay away from cancer is quitting smoking.