INCREASED FREQUENCIES OF MICRONUCLEI IN T8 LYMPHOCYTES OF SMOKERS

Micronucleus frequencies and mitotic indices were analyzed in B, T4, a nd T8 lymphocytes from 40 smokers and 42 non-smoking referents. The hi ghest level of micronuclei was found in T4 cells followed by T8 and B cells. These differences were statistically significant. There were st atistically significant linear correlations between the micronucleus f requencies of all three subsets. There was a statistically significant effect of smoking only in the Ts cells. Smoking also increased the nu mber of neutrophilic granulocytes and lymphocytes in the peripheral bl ood. There was a statistically significant effect of age on the micron ucleus frequencies in T4 and T8 lymphocytes. The mitotic indices did n ot have any effect on the micronucleus frequencies and they were not i nfluenced by smoking, age or sex.