Numerical and functional alterations in circulatory lymphocytes in cigarette smokers.
Simultaneous numerical and functional studies of circulatory lymphocytes were undertaken in healthy non-smoking and cigarette-smoking volunteers. The smokers all had light to moderate histories of less than 50 pack years. By contrast with non-smokers (n = 32), the smokers (n = 14) had a significant increase in the total number of lymphocytes, surface immunoglobulin bearing (sIg+) cells, total T-cells (T3+) and T helper-inducer cells (T4+), and a trend of increase in T suppressor-cytotoxic cells (8+). These changes differ from those in heavy smokers who have been reported to show significantly increased T suppressor-cytotoxic but significantly decreased T helper-inducer cells. Although the proportions of T-cell subsets did not differ significantly in the light to moderate smokers compared with non-smokers, in vitro T-suppressor function against the Ig-secreting response of allogeneic B-cells to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulation was significantly impaired. The proliferative response of T-cells to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was, however, similar in both groups. This suggests that smoking may exert a selective influence upon a subset of T suppressor cells. In cytotoxicity assays, smokers showed a significant decrease in natural killer cell (NK) activity but not in antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). It appears that these alterations are reversible since a group of ex-smokers (n = 10) were indistinguishable from our non-smoking group in all studies. The implications regarding the link between smoking and increased susceptibility to infection and malignancy are discussed; and these findings should be borne in mind in basic studies of lymphocytes.
Hughes
D A
DA
Haslam
P L
PL
Townsend
P J
PJ
Turner-Warwick
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D012907:Smoking; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D003208:Concanavalin A