Influence of tobacco dust on the respiratory system and selected immunological parameters

Tobacco dust contains various immunologically active as well as toxic substances. However the relationship between allergic reactivity or lung function with chronic exposure to tobacco dust remains unclear. Accordingly the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between occupational chronic exposition to tobacco dust, respiratory function and some allergic reaction parameters. METHODS 40 tobacco factory workers (47.5% women and 52.5% men) aged 25-59 years (mean 36.5) chronically (5-31 years, mean 12.6) exposed to tobacco dust were included into the study. Control group consisted of 30 subjects (46.7% women, 53.3% men) aged 25-60 years (mean 36.6) not exposed to tobacco leaves' dust. Detailed epidemiological data was collected. Additionally total IgE, specific (tobacco) IgE, eosinophil blood counts, skin tests (mixed grass and weed pollens, house dust, feather, tobacco extracts), basophil degranulation and neutrophil destruction tests with tobacco extracts as well as spirometry were studied in these groups. We found that FEV1/VC was significantly lower in tobacco industry workers chronically exposed to tobacco dust than in the control group (91.5 +/- 11.6% vs. 101.7 +/- 10.7% n; p = 0.0004). These subjects were also characterized by higher occurrence of mild bronchial obturation (FEV1/VC < 88% and FEV1 > 70%) which was present in 30% tobacco factory workers and in 6.7% of control group (p = 0.035). Levels of total IgE and tobacco-specific IgE, eosinophil counts, skin test reactivity, basophil degranulation and neutrophil destruction tests were not different between groups. CONCLUSIONS Occupational chronic exposition to the dust of tobacco leaves is associated with significant increase in the occurrence of mild obturative ventilatory disturbances. Simultaneously no increased frequency of allergization to tobacco or other allergens was observed in tobacco industry workers

[Influence of treating atopic dermatitis with oral antihistamine and topical steroids on selected parameters of cell and humoral immunity]

Pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) is multifactorial, therefore despite many different treatment protocols none of the available methods is effective enough. In the present study we analysed the effects of oral antihistamines and topical steroids on selected parameters of humoral (immunoglobulin levels) and cellular (lymphocyte proliferation index, granulocyte oxidative burst, lymphocyte phenotype CD4:CD8) immunity. These parameters were analysed in 34 AD subjects during the exacerbation of the disease and after 4 and 12 weeks of the treatment. RESULTS Along with the clinical status improvement (change form 3.17 +/- 0.1 to 1.3 +/- 0.2; 0-4 scale; p < 0.001), total serum IgE levels decreased significantly from 1563 +/- 459 to 1266 +/- +/- 364 IU/ml (p < 0.05). Other immunoglobulin levels did not change. Total blood chemiluminescence in response to latex stimulation was relatively higher during exacerbation than during remission, but this difference was not significant (p = 0.1). Mean spontaneous or PMA stimulated chemiluminescence did not differ either. CD4:CD8 index decreased significantly during the treatment (from 2.7 +/- 0.3 to 1.8 +/- 0.2; p = 0.03). Lymphocyte proliferation in response to PHA was significantly lower during exacerbation than during remission (10.4 +/- 2.8 vs. 27.1 +/- +/- 5.2; p < 0.03) and the improvement was observed after first 4 weeks of the treatment reaching the levels found in healthy controls. Proliferation index in response to anti-CD3 mAb (OKT-3) was in turn significantly higher during exacerbation (19.1 +/- 3.4 vs. 11.2 +/- 2.0; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Oral antihistamine in combination with topical steroids leads to several significant changes in the immune parameters (IgE levels, CD4:CD8 and proliferation indexes) which may explain its high effectiveness in majority of patients with AD

[The functional relevance of Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu-beta2-adrenoreceptor polymorphism in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of beta2-adrenoreceptor polymorphisms Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu as well as their relationship to the pulmonary function parameters, and the clinical presentation in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Investigated polymorphisms were in linkage disequilibrium, therefore their effects should be evaluated collectively. Although no significant association could be found with the presence of asthma or allergic rhinitis in studied population, polymorphisms of beta2-adrenoreceptor can influence pulmonary function in these patients. These effects significantly differ between men and women, possibly indicating the effect of sex hormones on genetic regulation of pulmonary function