Nicotine is associated with smoking dependence and vascular inflammation through cotinine: A mediation analysis.

Introduction: The main alkaloid component in cigarettes is nicotine. Cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, is capable of causing dependence effects through endless mechanisms modulated by the ion channel nicotinic acetylcholine receptors nAChRs. Nicotine and cotinine can also cause damage to blood vessels through a chronic inflammatory process mediated by the Ligand-Tie2 Angiopoietin Receptor system.