title: Plasma levels of beta-carotene are inversely correlated with circulating neutrophil counts in young male cigarette smokers.
abstract: Relationships between plasma levels of beta-carotene (BC) and the numbers and oxidant-generating activities of circulating neutrophils have been investigated in a group of asymptomatic young male cigarette smokers (N = 40) and in a group of nonsmoking control subjects. Plasma BC levels were measured using HPLC, while oxidant generation was measured using a phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) activated whole blood luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (LECL) method. Relative to nonsmokers, the numbers of circulating neutrophils, as well as the LECL responses of these cells, were increased by 41% (p = 0.0001) and 47% (p = 0.004), respectively, while plasma BC levels were decreased by 24% (p = 0.01). In cigarette smokers, but not in nonsmokers, the numbers of circulating neutrophils, as well as the LECL responses of these cells, were significantly and inversely correlated with plasma BC levels (r = -0.36, p = 0.02; and r = -0.33, P = 0.04 respectively). Diminished plasma levels of BC in cigarette smokers probably reflect the increased numbers and prooxidative activities of circulating neutrophils. Intake of this antioxidant nutrient may be a determinant of susceptibility to smoking-related pulmonary dysfunction mediated by oxidants derived from smoke-activated phagocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Van Antwerpen
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Theron
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Van der Merwe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viljoen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van der Walt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; D002784:Cholesterol; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate