How do healthy lung cells replace damaged ones after quitting?

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Healthy Lung Cells Can Replace Damaged Ones After Smoking Cessation

Quitting smoking allows the lungs to replace damaged and cancer-prone cells with healthy ones, effectively reversing some of the harm caused by tobacco. This regeneration process appears to involve a reservoir of healthy cells that proliferate to take the place of those affected by cigarette smoke. In individuals who have quit, a significant proportion of lung cells, up to 40%, were found to be healthy, a marked increase compared to those who continue to smoke.
Emergence of Healthy Cells

Following smoking cessation, the body appears to activate a mechanism where healthy lung cells emerge to replace those damaged by years of tobacco exposure. These healthy cells are distinct from the damaged ones, having not been subjected to the harmful effects of cigarette smoke. This replacement is not a form of self-repair of the damaged cells themselves, but rather a substitution by newly available healthy cells.
A Reservoir of Healthy Cells

The study suggests the existence of a reserve of healthy cells within the lungs, which are not directly affected by smoking. When a person quits, these cells are believed to proliferate from this "safe harbour" or reservoir. This expansion allows them to gradually replace the cells that have sustained damage from cigarette smoke and developed mutations.
Increased Healthy Cell Proportion in Ex-Smokers

Analysis of lung biopsies revealed a notable difference between current smokers and ex-smokers. While current smokers exhibited mutations in a high percentage of their lung cells, ex-smokers showed a substantial increase in healthy cells. In some ex-smokers, up to 40% of their total lung cells were healthy, a fourfold increase compared to individuals who continued to smoke, indicating a significant restorative effect.

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How do healthy lung cells replace damaged ones after quitting?

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