Studio dell'effetto del fumo di sigaretta sul sistema immunitario nella popolazione dell'Ogliastra

Aim: Cigarette smoke is a risk factor for premature death, determining a profound dysregulation of health homeostasis. The goal of this study was to investigate how smoke affects immunity to understand its contribution on smoke-related pathologies.Methods: We measured the main leukocyte cell population levels (about 100 cell types) in 1,600 SardiNIA volunteers (20% smokers, 63% no smokers and 17% ex-smokers). We also analyzed the serum levels of inflammatory and activation markers (C Reactive Protein, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, Interleukin 6, sBAFF and sCD25), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE) as well as several haematological parameters.Results: As expected, we detected a general leukocytosis in smokers and the regulatory T cells was the strongest associated lymphocyte subset (P-value <5.48E-5). We also found a significant increase of total B cells accordingly with the rise of sBAFF (P-value <5.48E-5), an activator of B cell proliferation and survival. Moreover, smokers showed an augmentation of sCD25, IL-6, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (P-values <5.48E-5) and C Reactive Protein (P-value=not significant) confirming an inflammatory profile in smokers. We also observed a significant rise of IgE and a reduction of IgA and IgG in smokers (P-values <5.48E-5).Conclusions: This study showed deep alterations of the immune system in smokers that could suggest possible mechanisms involved in the occurrence of smoke-related pathologies.