title: Mediators of hypersensitivity in the sputum of young, symptomatic cigarette smokers.
abstract: We have measured the concentrations of mediators of hypersensitivity in the sputum of twenty-five young, symptomatic cigarette smokers who regularly expectorated and twenty-three matched non-smokers with a respiratory infection. The measurements included sputum and blood eosinophils, IgE, IgG, IgA and IgM and also sputum histamine. We found a significant increase of sputum histamine, and a higher sputum/serum ratio of IgE in smokers when compared to non-smokers. These findings support the view that the bronchial inflammatory response in smokers, as in chronic bronchitis, involves the participation of mediators of hypersensitivity.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests; D012907:Smoking; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology*; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007073:Immunoglobulin E