Skip to main content
PMC home page
Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1994 Feb;95(2):333–336. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1994.tb06533.x

IL-4 production is increased in cigarette smokers.

K A Byron 1, G A Varigos 1, A M Wootton 1
PMCID: PMC1534911  PMID: 8306509

Abstract

Cigarette smoking has been associated with both increases in serum levels of total IgE and an increased risk of developing allergic-like symptoms. IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) have reciprocal roles in the regulation of IgE synthesis, and as such prompted us to evaluate, in smokers, the production of these two cytokines. We demonstrate that phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced IL-4 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of smokers (n = 19) is significantly higher than that of non-smokers (n = 10, P < 0.005). In addition, PBMC from heavy smokers, defined by the number of cigarettes smoked per day, produced significantly higher levels of IL-4 than those of light smokers. No difference between the groups was found for IFN-gamma production. Our data suggest an imbalance in cytokine production occurring in individuals who smoke. This imbalance, favouring IL-4 production, may be part of the mechanism responsible for the observed increases in serum IgE and allergic-like symptoms associated with cigarette smoking.

Full text

PDF
336

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Burrows B., Halonen M., Barbee R. A., Lebowitz M. D. The relationship of serum immunoglobulin E to cigarette smoking. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1981 Nov;124(5):523–525. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1981.124.5.523. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Byron K. A., Liberatos S., Varigos G. A., Wootton A. M. Interferon-gamma production in atopic dermatitis: a role for prostaglandins? Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1992;99(1):50–55. doi: 10.1159/000236335. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Clutterbuck E. J., Hirst E. M., Sanderson C. J. Human interleukin-5 (IL-5) regulates the production of eosinophils in human bone marrow cultures: comparison and interaction with IL-1, IL-3, IL-6, and GMCSF. Blood. 1989 May 1;73(6):1504–1512. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Coffman R. L., Ohara J., Bond M. W., Carty J., Zlotnik A., Paul W. E. B cell stimulatory factor-1 enhances the IgE response of lipopolysaccharide-activated B cells. J Immunol. 1986 Jun 15;136(12):4538–4541. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Costabel U., Bross K. J., Reuter C., Rühle K. H., Matthys H. Alterations in immunoregulatory T-cell subsets in cigarette smokers. A phenotypic analysis of bronchoalveolar and blood lymphocytes. Chest. 1986 Jul;90(1):39–44. doi: 10.1378/chest.90.1.39. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gajewski T. F., Schell S. R., Nau G., Fitch F. W. Regulation of T-cell activation: differences among T-cell subsets. Immunol Rev. 1989 Oct;111:79–110. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065x.1989.tb00543.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Jones J. G., Minty B. D., Lawler P., Hulands G., Crawley J. C., Veall N. Increased alveolar epithelial permeability in cigarette smokers. Lancet. 1980 Jan 12;1(8159):66–68. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(80)90493-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Magnusson C. G. Maternal smoking influences cord serum IgE and IgD levels and increases the risk for subsequent infant allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1986 Nov;78(5 Pt 1):898–904. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(86)90237-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Mosmann T. R., Bond M. W., Coffman R. L., Ohara J., Paul W. E. T-cell and mast cell lines respond to B-cell stimulatory factor 1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Aug;83(15):5654–5658. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.15.5654. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Mosmann T. R., Cherwinski H., Bond M. W., Giedlin M. A., Coffman R. L. Two types of murine helper T cell clone. I. Definition according to profiles of lymphokine activities and secreted proteins. J Immunol. 1986 Apr 1;136(7):2348–2357. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Ronchetti R., Macri F., Ciofetta G., Indinnimeo L., Cutrera R., Bonci E., Antognoni G., Martinez F. D. Increased serum IgE and increased prevalence of eosinophilia in 9-year-old children of smoking parents. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1990 Sep;86(3 Pt 1):400–407. doi: 10.1016/s0091-6749(05)80104-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Sarfati M., Delespesse G. Possible role of human lymphocyte receptor for IgE (CD23) or its soluble fragments in the in vitro synthesis of human IgE. J Immunol. 1988 Oct 1;141(7):2195–2199. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Weitzman M., Gortmaker S., Walker D. K., Sobol A. Maternal smoking and childhood asthma. Pediatrics. 1990 Apr;85(4):505–511. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Wierenga E. A., Snoek M., de Groot C., Chrétien I., Bos J. D., Jansen H. M., Kapsenberg M. L. Evidence for compartmentalization of functional subsets of CD2+ T lymphocytes in atopic patients. J Immunol. 1990 Jun 15;144(12):4651–4656. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Zetterström O., Nordvall S. L., Björkstén B., Ahlstedt S., Stelander M. Increased IgE antibody responses in rats exposed to tobacco smoke. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1985 May;75(5):594–598. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(85)90035-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Zetterström O., Osterman K., Machado L., Johansson S. G. Another smoking hazard: raised serum IgE concentration and increased risk of occupational allergy. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981 Nov 7;283(6301):1215–1217. doi: 10.1136/bmj.283.6301.1215. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Clinical and Experimental Immunology are provided here courtesy of British Society for Immunology

RESOURCES