SERUM ANTIBODIES AND IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN SMOKERS AND NONSMOKERS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (2) , 467-473
Abstract
Antibodies to antigens in humidifier water were detected by double immunodiffision in 30 of 63 (47.6%) persons who were exposed to aerosols from a water humidification unit in a cigar plant; no antibodies could be detected in 49 unexposed blood donors (P < 0.001). The presence of antibodies could not be related to fever or pulmonary symptoms (cough, expectoration, dyspnea). Antibodies were found in 14 (93.3%) of 15 nonsmokers and in only 13 (31.7%) of 41 smokers (P < 0.001) and the titers were highest in nonsmokers. Serum IgG and IgA levels were higher in nonsmokers than in smokers, and the variances within the groups were significantly different (F < 0.05 and F < 0.05, respectively). The mean serum IgM values were not significantly different in the 2 groups. Antibodies to Candida albicans and Escherichia coli O4 and O75 were detected with equal prevalences and titers in smokers and nonsmokers. Thus, tobacco smoking may suppress the humoral immune response to inhaled antigens but not to antigens which are supposed to be absorbed through membranes other than those of the bronchopulmonary system. They may partly explain the reported increased incidence of allergic alveolitis in nonsmokers.