Even moderate cigarette smoking influences the pattern of circulating monocytes and the concentration of sICAM-1

The pattern of circulating monocyte subtypes and the concentration of the s oluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were compared in middle-a ged female moderate smokers and lifetime non-smokers. Total leukocyte and m onocyte counts were higher in smokers. The pattern of circulating monocytes of smokers was changed toward lower absolute counts of activated (CD16 +/C D64 +) monocytes and (CD16 +/CD14 +) monocyte-macrophages and higher counts of nonactivated monocytes. The serum concentration of soluble ICAM-1 was s ignificantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers. It is supposed that eve n moderate cigarette smoking leads to an activation of the circulating mono cytes and their increased adhesion to the endothelium. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.