Researchers have found a new technique to minimize the effect of smoking on humans, through a study on mice. This new technique blocks an inflammatory protein which reverses lung damage from tobacco smoke and can be used for the treatment of COPD patients and lung related diseases.

Tobacco smoke causes the release of GM-CSF, which destroys the lung tissues and hence causes emphysema. It was seen that by blocking GM-CSF inflammation to the lungs was reduced, reversing its harmful effect.

Ross Vlahos, Ph. D., a senior research fellow with the lung disease research group at the University of Melbourne, said that after the mice were treated with anti-GM-CSF, it was seen after 4 days that these mice had less inflammation compared to the ones which were untreated.

"Our treatment deals with cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation involved in COPD, not cancer and other smoking-related ailments. Quitting remains the best and only cure for smoking-related lung disease", said Dr. Vlahos.

He also mentioned that quitting was still the best way to prevent lung diseases.