2ND-HAND SMOKE IS AN ADJUVANT FOR T-HELPER-2 RESPONSES IN A MURINE MODEL OF ALLERGY

Epidemiologic studies have suggested that ''second-hand smoke'' increa ses the incidence and severity of allergies and asthma. To address thi s, we developed a murine model that included generation of and exposur e to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) followed by aerosolized Ag chal lenge. We report herein that exposure of OVA-sensitized BALB/c mice to ETS elicits a rapid and prolonged exaggerated response with respect t o IgE, IgG1, eosinophils, and Th2 cytokines (particularly IL-4 and IL- 10). There was a significant increase (p = 0.0159) in the total cells of the bronchoalveolar lavage in OVA-sensitized mice exposed to ETS wh en compared with those in ambient air. This is the first experimental data to demonstrate that ''second-hand smoke'' up-regulates the allerg ic response to inhaled Ag. The results have important health implicati ons for children and allergic individuals residing in households with smokers.