Immunological findings in cigarette smokers

The aim of our study was to assess the effects of cigarette smoking on sele cted indices of immunity. The study comprised 116 men divided into three gr oups: 37 subjects smoking for not more than 10 yr, 39 subjects smoking for more than 10 yr, and control group consisting of 40 age-matched men who nev er used to smoke. The following parameters were studied: total number of ly mphocytes, B-cells, T-cells subpopulations: (CD3 +)T-, (CD4 +)T-helper, (CD 8 +)T-cytotoxic and (CD16 +)natural killer (NK)-cells and serum concentrati on of immunoglobulins A, D, G and M, C3c and C4 complement components, acut e phase proteins: alpha (1)-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin a nd lysozyme. The (CD4 +)/(CD8 +) ratio was also calculated. The suppressive effect of tobacco smoke on human immunity was seen as decreased serum conc entration of immunoglobulins and lysozyme, especially in men smoking for mo re than 10 yr, decreased (CD16 + )NK-cells absolute number and elevated pop ulation of (CD8 +) T-cytotoxic lymphocytes entailing a decrease in CD4 + /C D8 + ratio. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.