Second-hand smoke is an adjuvant for T helper-2 responses in a murine model of allergy.
Epidemiologic studies have suggested that "second-hand smoke" increases the incidence and severity of allergies and asthma. To address this, we developed a murine model that included generation of and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) followed by aerosolized Ag challenge. We report herein that exposure of OVA-sensitized BALB/c mice to ETS elicits a rapid and prolonged exaggerated response with respect to IgE, IgG1, eosinophils, and Th2 cytokines (particularly IL-4 and IL-10). There was a significant increase (p = 0.0159) in the total cells of the bronchoalveolar lavage in OVA-sensitized mice exposed to ETS when compared with those in ambient air. This is the first experimental data to demonstrate that "second-hand smoke" up-regulates the allergic response to inhaled Ag. The results have important health implications for children and allergic individuals residing in households with smokers.
Seymour
B W
BW
Department of Immunobiology, DNAX Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
Pinkerton
K E
KE
Friebertshauser
K E
KE
Coffman
R L
RL
Gershwin
L J
LJ
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000336:Aerosols; D016207:Cytokines; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D010047:Ovalbumin