ABSTRACT
Title
Immunological function following the first decade of smoking
Authors
C. Mannucci1, E. Calzavara1, A. Carnì1, A. Pieratti1, A. Nunziata3, A. P. Caputi1,2, G. Calapai1
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Messina, Italy
2 IRCCS Centro Neurolesi ‘‘Bonino-Pulejo’’, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
3 Akros Bioscience, Pomezia (Roma), Italy.
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Messina, Italy
2 IRCCS Centro Neurolesi ‘‘Bonino-Pulejo’’, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
3 Akros Bioscience, Pomezia (Roma), Italy.
Abstract
Cigarette smoking is a modifiable risk factor for human health and it has been associated with an increased risk of major chronic diseases (Burns, 2003;World Health Organisation2002). Investigation on role of biomarkers of exposure and potential harm as a part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing the health effects of tobacco smoking has been suggested (Stratton et al., 2001), through the study of the biological markers related to the risk of the diseases potentially linked to the exposure.
With the aim to investigateon the biomarkers of immune system function in smokers having one decade of smoking history, two groups of healthy volunteer smokers and a group of healthy never smokers were recruited. All groups of subjects were of similar mean ages and smokers had, on average, smoked for 10-12 years. The following clinical parameters were evaluated: body mass index, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In the blood: red and white cell counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit, platelets, differential white cells count, immunoglobulins A, G and M (IgA, IgG and IgM). Our results show that all biomarkers of exposure (carbon monoxide, nicotine, nicotine metabolites and 4-(methylnitrosamine)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol were significantly elevated in smokers, with a statistically significant increasing linear trend across groups according to smoking status. IgG levels were decreased with a significant trend related to smoking status (p <0.01). Interleukin-6 levels were higher in smoker groups compared to never smokers with a significant increasing trend across the groups (p < 0.05). Significant differences between female never smokers and smokers were seen for hemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, total leukocyte count, neutrophil count and lymphocyte count. In male smokers, only total leukocyte count was increased in a significant way. The results indicate that significant, even if not pathological, differences between smokers and non-smokers in potential biomarkers involved in immunological function such as IgG reduction, may be detected yet after the first decade of smoking. The present data, even though obtained from a small groups of subjects, purchase some interesting information on the beginning of the potential development of diseases caused by smoke linked to immunological disorders.
With the aim to investigateon the biomarkers of immune system function in smokers having one decade of smoking history, two groups of healthy volunteer smokers and a group of healthy never smokers were recruited. All groups of subjects were of similar mean ages and smokers had, on average, smoked for 10-12 years. The following clinical parameters were evaluated: body mass index, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In the blood: red and white cell counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit, platelets, differential white cells count, immunoglobulins A, G and M (IgA, IgG and IgM). Our results show that all biomarkers of exposure (carbon monoxide, nicotine, nicotine metabolites and 4-(methylnitrosamine)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol were significantly elevated in smokers, with a statistically significant increasing linear trend across groups according to smoking status. IgG levels were decreased with a significant trend related to smoking status (p <0.01). Interleukin-6 levels were higher in smoker groups compared to never smokers with a significant increasing trend across the groups (p < 0.05). Significant differences between female never smokers and smokers were seen for hemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, total leukocyte count, neutrophil count and lymphocyte count. In male smokers, only total leukocyte count was increased in a significant way. The results indicate that significant, even if not pathological, differences between smokers and non-smokers in potential biomarkers involved in immunological function such as IgG reduction, may be detected yet after the first decade of smoking. The present data, even though obtained from a small groups of subjects, purchase some interesting information on the beginning of the potential development of diseases caused by smoke linked to immunological disorders.