EFFECTS OF NICOTINE AND EXPOSURE TO CIGARETTE-SMOKE ON SUPPRESSION OFLOCAL GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST REACTION INDUCED BY IMMOBILIZATION STRESS IN MICE

To study the effects of emotional stress on immunological activities a nd modification of these effects by nicotine or cigarette smoke, we ev aluated the effects immobilization stress on local graft-versus-host ( GVH) reaction, a cell-mediated immune response, and the effects of nic otine and cigarette smoke on them. The effects of immobilization stres s on GVH reaction and the effects of nicotine and cigarette smoke on t hem were evaluated in two experiments: in Experiment 1 by applying the stimulations before and immediately after spleen cell transplantation , and in Experiment, 2, by applying stimulations after transplantation . Spleen cells of BALB/C mice were injected into the footpad of CBF1 m ice, and GVH reaction was examined after 7 days by weighing the poplit eal lymph nodes. Immobilization, nicotine administration and inhalatio n of cigarette smoke were performed either for 5 days before and immed iately after the transplantation (Experiment 1) or for 5 days after tr ansplantation (Experiment 2). The weight of the lymph nodes was marked ly increased in the control group, indicating GVH reaction, but the re action was suppressed by immobilization in both experiments. This supp ression of GVH reaction by immobilization was antagonized by nicotine administration and exposure to cigarette smoke in Experiment 1 but not in Experiment 2. These findings suggest that nicotine and cigarette s moke induce recovery of immune response suppressed by immobilization s tress, especially by increasing the competence of antigen recognition.