REVIEW - Effects of tobacco smoke on immunity, inflammation, and autoimmunity

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J Autoimmun. 2009 Dec 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Effects of tobacco smoke on immunity, inflammation and autoimmunity.

Arnson Y, Shoenfeld Y, Amital H.

Department of Medicine D, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel;

Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Smoking is a central factor in many pathological conditions. Its role

in neoplasm, lung and cardiovascular diseases has been well

established for years. However it is less acknowledged the cigarette

smoking affects both the innate and adoptive immune arms. Cigarette

smoke was shown to augment the production of numerous pro-inflammatory

cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 GM-CSF and to decrease

the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10. Tobacco smoke

via multiple mechanisms leads to elevated IgE concentrations and to

the subsequent development of atopic diseases and asthma. Cigarette

smoke has also been shown activate in many ways macrophage and

dendritic cell activity. While it is better evident how cigarette

smoke evokes airway diseases more mechanisms are being revealed

linking this social hazard to autoimmune disorders, for instance via

the production of antibodies recognizing citrullinated proteins in

rheumatoid arthritis or by the elevation of anti-dsDNA titers in

systemic lupus erythematosus.

The current review underlines the importance of smoking prevention and

eradication not only in respiratory disorders but also in autoimmune

conditions as well.

PMID: 20042314

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20042314

Not an MD