Second-hand smoke is an adjuvant for T helper-2 responses in a murine model of allergy

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 159; no. 12; pp. 6169 - 6175
• Main Authors: Seymour, BW, Pinkerton, KE, Friebertshauser, KE, Coffman, RL, Gershwin, LJ
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 15.12.1997
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Aerosols; Animals; Antibody Formation; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Disease Models, Animal; Environmental Exposure; Female; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Lung - immunology; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin - administration & dosage; Ovalbumin - immunology; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - blood; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology; Tobacco Smoke Pollution
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.159.12.6169

Epidemiologic studies have suggested that "second-hand smoke" increases the incidence and severity of allergies and asthma. To address this, we developed a murine model that included generation of and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) followed by aerosolized Ag challenge. We report herein that exposure of OVA-sensitized BALB/c mice to ETS elicits a rapid and prolonged exaggerated response with respect to 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 when compared with those in ambient air. This is the first experimental data to demonstrate that "second-hand smoke" up-regulates the allergic response to inhaled Ag. The results have important health implications for children and allergic individuals residing in households with smokers.