title: Hydroquinone, a major component in cigarette smoke, reduces IFN-gamma production in antigen-primed lymphocytes.
abstract: Exposure to cigarette smoke is known to suppress immune responses and to increase the incidence and severity of respiratory infections. In this study, we determined the effect of hydroquinone (HQ), which is found at high concentrations in cigarette smoke, on interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by lymphocytes. HQ significantly inhibited IFN-gamma secretion by keyhole limpet hemocyanin-primed lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, HQ inhibited IFN-gamma secretion in effector CD4+ T cells and Th1-differentiated CD4+ T cells. The mRNA expression of IFN-gamma and the IFN-gamma gene promoter activity were inhibited by HQ. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of HQ on IFN-gamma secretion may occur at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, the effects of HQ on transcription factors were investigated. HQ inhibited the transcriptional activity of activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-kappa B, which are known to be involved in IFN-gamma transcriptional activation. These findings provide evidence that HQ might suppress immune responses by reducing the production of IFN-gamma and may explain the susceptibility to microbial infections caused by cigarette smoking.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Drug Development, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Won Jea
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Tae Sung
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bok Yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology*; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000633:toxicity*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014026:Nicotiana; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D006873:Hydroquinones; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012906:Smoke; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin; C031927:hydroquinone