RESUMO
The chemical variety of tobacco smoke components induces a multidirectional, not yet fully understood effects on living organisms, including both those actively and passively exposed. The chemical compounds present in tobacco smoke, due to its heterogeneous structure and properties undergo different biotransformation processes. Some components of tobacco smoke (for example, carbon monoxide) have an immediate effect on the body, in this case due to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin, and nicotine contained in the tobacco smoke also has direct influence on the cardiovascular system. Additionally, lifestyle imposed by the highly developed society, including a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet cause, that we are exposed to the factors associated with the formation of the so-called lifestyle diseases, like atherosclerosis and cancer. Pregnancy-Associated-PlasmaProtein A (PAPP-A) is a high-molecular zinc-binding metalloproteinase that was first detected in the serum of pregnant women as a protein produced by trophoblasts of properly developing fetus. In the blood of pregnant women PAPP-A exists as heterotetrameric complex (htPAPP-A) consisting of two subunits of PAPP-A. It can also be detected in men and women who are not pregnant but this time labeled PAPP-A is present as a homodimer (dPAPP-A, "free PAPP-A") consisting of two identical subunits devoid of proMBP protein. Recently a growing interest in determining the concentration of PAPP-A as a marker of oxidative stress and atherosclerotic processes is observed, because the increased levels of PAPP-Awere detected in people with a history of cardiovascular incident. PAPP-A is present on the early stages of atherosclerotic plaque instability when it is still possible to prevent a myocardial damage. The influence of smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke on concentrations of PAPP-A is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of PAPP-A levels in the population of healthy young men and non-pregnant women. In the study author's questionnaire was used to assess exposure to tobacco smoke including knowledge of exposure to selected environmental xenobiotics, unhealthy habits and everyday diet. The study group consisted of 169 students of the first and second year students of the Faculty of Medicine and Department of Medicine and Dentistry, and the second year of Emergency Medicine in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia. Blood samples were obtained from 153 students. For the determination of protein PAPP-A ELISA method was used. Mean PAPP-A concentration in the study group was 11.52 [ng/ml]. There was a statistically significant difference in the concentration of PAPP-A regarding gender (women 14.6 [ng/ml] vs. men 20.39 [ng/ml]; p = 0.014). In the study group of smoking students average concentration of PAPP-A was lower in comparison with non-smoking students (regardless of gender). Passive exposure to tobacco smoke also affects the levels of PAPP-A in the tested population of young people.