RESEARCH - Cigarette smoking and release of TNF-alpha and its soluble receptors in patients with RA

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Rheumatology (Oxford). 2006 Apr 3; [Epub ahead of print]

Association between cigarette smoking and release of tumour necrosis factor

{alpha} and its soluble receptors by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in

patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Glossop JR, Dawes PT, Mattey DL.

Staffordshire Rheumatology Centre, University Hospital of North

Staffordshire, UK; Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele

University, Keele, UK.

Objective. To investigate the relationship between cigarette smoking and

release of TNF-alpha and its soluble receptors (sTNFRI and sTNFRII) by

peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from RA patients. Methods. We

studied 71 RA patients with established disease (mean duration 10.6 yr).

Smoking history was established by questionnaire. T lymphocytes and

monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood and incubated with or without

stimulation (phytohaemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharide, respectively).

Release of TNF-alpha and sTNFR into culture medium was measured by

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. TNF-alpha release by stimulated

T lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients with a history of smoking

than in those who had never smoked (1416.0 vs 767.4 pg/ml, P = 0.04), and

showed a relationship with smoking duration and intensity (P for trend

</=0.009). Monocyte TNF-alpha release was not associated with smoking

status. Release of sTNFR showed no clear relationships with extent of

smoking, although release by stimulated T lymphocytes was higher in past

smokers than in those who had never smoked (P </= 0.03). The ratio of

TNF-alpha/sTNFR released from T lymphocytes was higher in past and current

smokers, and was associated with extent of smoking. No relationship was

found between smoking and plasma TNF-alpha levels, but levels of both

receptors were higher in past smokers.

Conclusion. In RA patients who smoke there is an alteration in the ratio of

TNF-alpha/sTNFR released by stimulated T cells that might favour increased

TNF-alpha activity. The increased TNF-alpha/sTNFR ratio is associated with

extent of smoking, and remains elevated after smoking cessation.

PMID: 16585133

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=16585133

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