CIGARETTE-SMOKING INCREASES MONOCYTE ADHERENCE TO CULTURED ENDOTHELIAL-CELL MONOLAYER

Leukocyte adherence to endothelium represents one of the early respons es to injury. Although the underlying mechanisms of atherosclerosis an d intimal hyperplasia remain unclear, monocytes/macrophages are associ ated with this phenomenon. Since cigarette smoking has been identified as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, we examined the ef fects of chronic cigarrette smoking on human leukocyte adherence (mono cytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils) to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC's) in vitro. Among the cells, the basal adher ence of monocytes only was significantly elevated in the smoking group (p<0.05) compared to the non-smokers. Furthermore, the increase is re lated to increasing pack per day consumption (p <0.01). These novel da ta suggest an alteration of the circulating monocytes by cigarette smo king,resulting,in increased adherence to endothelial cells. (C) 1994 A cademic Press, Inc.