Th1 and Th2 cytokines and IgE levels in identical twins with varying levels of cigarette consumption.
Some have suggested that tobacco smoke may skew the immune system toward a Th2 pattern, however the effects of genetics or childhood exposures could explain these results. We compared PMBC supernatant or serum Th1 (INF-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) cytokine and IgE levels in members of 45 pairs of nonasthmatic monozygotic twins with varying levels of current cigarette consumption to determine if smoking was associated with Th1/Th2 function after accounting for genetic factors. A statistically significant dose-response was observed between levels of smoking and IL-13 (p=0.05). Mean IL-13 level among heavy smokers (20+ cigarettes/day) was 146% higher than that among nonsmokers (+26.2 pg/mL; p=0.04). The mean IL-5 level among heavy smokers was 166% higher than that among light (<20 cigarettes/day) smokers (+3.4 pg/mL; p=0.03). No statistically significant differences in INF-gamma, IL-4, or IgE levels were observed. Smoking appears to be associated with increased levels of IL-13.
Cozen
Wendy
W
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90089-9175, USA. wcozen@usc.edu
Diaz-Sanchez
David
D
James Gauderman
W
W
Zadnick
John
J
Cockburn
Myles G
MG
Gill
Parkash S
PS
Masood
Rizwan
R
Hamilton
Ann S
AS
Jyrala
Minna
M
Mack
Thomas M
TM
D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D019409:Interleukin-15; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E