title: Passive exposure to smoke results in defective interferon-gamma production by adenoids in children with recurrent respiratory infections.
abstract: There is evidence that exposure to passive smoke is associated with an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. Indeed, cigarette smoke extracts may interfere with the immune system, even though the precise mechanism has not been fully understood yet. Recurrent respiratory infections may be sustained by a defective immune response. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether, in a cohort of children presenting both with recurrent respiratory infections and with a history of exposure to tobacco smoke, these factors were related to a lower local production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) when compared to a similar non-exposed population. The study group included 128 children undergoing adenoidectomy, presenting with more than three respiratory infections per year, independently of exposure to passive smoke at home. The intracellular cytokine profile of lymphocyte subsets in adenoids was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. Children exposed to tobacco smoke suffered from a significantly greater number of respiratory infections and had a lower percentage of IFN-gamma-producing CD8+ cells in adenoids than non-exposed children, while other T-cell subsets were not affected. The effect of smoke exposure seems to be specific to the IFN-gamma-producing CD8+ cells in adenoids and may contribute to the increased susceptibility to the recurrence of respiratory infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. gl.marseglia@smatteo.pv.it
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Marseglia
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Avanzini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caimmi
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caimmi
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marseglia
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valsecchi
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poddighe
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pagella
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klersy
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Castellazzi
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D007371:Interferon-gamma