Increased frequency of micronuclei in B and T8 lymphocytes from smokers.
The frequency of micronuclei was measured in peripheral B lymphocytes and some T lymphocyte subpopulations from 5 medium-tar cigarette smokers, and 5 non-smokers with no regular exposure to tobacco smoke. The peripheral lymphocytes were stimulated in vitro with phytohemagglutinin and B lymphocytes and the various T lymphocyte subsets were classified by a recently developed MAC (Morphology, Antibody, Chromosomes) method which allows the immunologic identification of different cell lineages. An increased frequency of micronuclei was observed in B and especially in the suppressor/cytotoxic T8 lymphocytes from smokers, as compared with non-smoker values. In non-smoker cultures, no differences in the frequency of micronuclei were observed among the different T lymphocyte subsets. In these cultures, B cells tended to have a higher frequency of micronuclei than did T cells. The proportions of B cells and the various T subpopulations among mitotic and interphasic lymphocytes from smokers and non-smokers were also determined. The proportions of B cells and T cell subsets among all mitotic lymphocytes were similar in smokers and non-smokers. Contrarily, a significant decrease in the proportion of T8 lymphocytes among all interphasic lymphocytes was observed in cultures derived from smokers.
Larramendy
M L
ML
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Knuutila
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens