title: CD40/CD154 system and pro-inflammatory cytokines in young healthy male smokers without additional risk factors for atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerosis, as an inflammatory disease, is characterized by pathologically altered levels of cytokines. We investigated whether smoking affects the CD40/CD154 system and pro-inflammatory cytokines in young males without other risk factors for atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young male smokers (n=13) and 14 non-smoking controls were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The differences in CD40/CD154 system and serum cytokines between the groups were measured using flow cytometry and ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In smokers, there was a strong trend (P<0.06) for increased CD40 expression on platelets as compared with non-smokers. However, there were no significant differences in CD40 expression on monocytes or in CD154 expression on platelets and T-cells between smokers and non-smokers. There was a strong trend for increased platelet-monocyte aggregates in smokers (P<0.06). Also, smokers had slightly but not significantly elevated hsCRP and IL-6 levels, and slightly decreased TNF-alpha and MCP-1. Interestingly, IL-18, a cytokine which has the ability to promote both Th1 and Th2 responses, was significantly decreased in smokers group (P=0.03 vs controls).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In young healthy males, smoking is not associated with dramatic changes in CD40/CD154 system. However, cigarette smoke alters the secreted cytokine profile, leading to significant decrease in systemic IL-18 levels.
authors.affiliation: University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Medical Clinic 2, Erlangen, Germany. Christoph.Garlichs@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Garlichs
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cicha
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raaz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stumpf
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klinghammer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Daniel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012906:Smoke; D023201:CD40 Ligand