title: Immunomodulatory effects of cigarette smoke.
abstract: Cigarette smoke is a major health risk factor which significantly increases the incidence of diseases including lung cancer and respiratory infections. This increased susceptibility may result from cigarette smoke-induced impairment of the immune system. While the acute effects of cigarette smoke on the immune system are less clear, chronic exposure to cigarette smoke or nicotine causes T cell unresponsiveness. This apparent T cell anergy may account for or contribute to the immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties of cigarette smoke/nicotine. Nicotine-induced immunosuppression may result from its direct effects on lymphocytes, indirectly through its effects on the neuroendocrine system, or both.
authors.affiliation: Pathophysiology Division, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA. msopori@lrri.org
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sopori
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kozak
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000276:immunology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000276:immunology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine