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Cited by 265Smoking Behavior and CessationChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ResearchImmunotoxicology and immune responses

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 77 of the 77 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 70 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

The effect of smoking on chronic inflammation, immune function and blood cell composition

Open access

Abstract

Smoking is the number one risk factor for cancer mortality but only 15–20% of heavy smokers develop lung cancer. It would, therefore, be of great benefit to identify those at high risk early on so that preventative measures can be initiated. To investigate this, we evaluated the effects of smoking on inflammatory markers, innate and adaptive immune responses to bacterial and viral challenges and blood cell composition. We found that plasma samples from 30 heavy smokers (16 men and 14 women) had significantly higher CRP, fibrinogen, IL-6 and CEA levels than 36 non-smoking controls. Whole blood samples from smokers, incubated for 7 h at 37 °C in the absence of any exogenous stimuli, secreted significantly higher levels of IL-8 and a number of other cytokines/chemokines than non-smokers. When challenged for 7 h with E. coli, whole blood samples from smokers secreted significantly lower levels of many inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. However, when stimulated with HSV-1, significantly higher levels of both PGE 2 and many cytokines/chemokines were secreted from smokers’ blood samples than from controls. In terms of blood cell composition, red blood cells, hematocrits, hemoglobin levels, MCV, MCH, MCHC, Pct and RDW levels were all elevated in smokers, in keeping with their compromised lung capacity. As well, total leukocytes were significantly higher, driven by increases in granulocytes and monocytes. In addition, smokers had lower NK cells and higher Tregs than controls, suggesting that smoking may reduce the ability to kill nascent tumor cells. Importantly, there was substantial person-to person variation amongst smokers with some showing markedly different values from controls and others showing normal levels of many parameters measured, indicating the former may be at significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer.

Overview

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TL;DR

In a cross-sectional comparison, heavy smokers showed elevated chronic inflammation markers (CRP, fibrinogen, IL-6, CEA) and altered blood cell composition (higher granulocytes/monocytes/Tregs, lower NK cells) versus non-smokers. Whole blood from smokers also had higher unstimulated and HSV-1-induced cytokine/PGE2 responses but lower responses to E. coli, with substantial person-to-person variation.

Key findings

  • Plasma from 30 heavy smokers had significantly higher CRP (p = 0.046), fibrinogen (p = 0.005), IL-6 (p = 0.049), and CEA (p = 0.0009) than 36 non-smoking controls; PGE2 was not significantly elevated (p = 0.259).
  • After 7 h incubation without exogenous stimulus, smokers’ whole blood secreted significantly more IL-8 (p < 0.0001). With HSV-1, smokers’ blood secreted significantly more G-CSF (p = 0.012), IL-8 (p = 0.002), IL-1β (p = 0.004), IFNγ (p = 0.0002), IL-1RA (p = 0.0005), IL-12 (p < 0.0001), TNFα (p = 0.003), VEGF (p < 0.0001), and PGE2. With E. coli, smokers’ blood secreted significantly less IL-1β (p = 0.002), IL-10 (p = 0.0003), IL-6 (p = 0.0004), MIP1α (p = 0.02), and TNFα (p < 0.0001).
  • Smokers had significantly higher hematocrit (p = 0.01), hemoglobin (p = 0.0002), MCV/MCH/MCHC (p < 0.05), RDW (p = 0.007), and plateletcrit (p = 0.02), but no significant difference in RBC count (p = 0.212). Total leukocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes were significantly higher (p < 0.0001 each), lymphocytes were not (p = 0.058), NK cells were lower (p = 0.0002), and Tregs were higher; CD4/CD8 ratio did not change.
  • There was substantial person-to-person variation among smokers, with some showing markedly different values from controls and others normal levels across many parameters.

Methods

  • Cross-sectional comparison of 30 heavy smokers (current smokers smoking ≥ 1 pack/day for at least 20 years; 16 men and 14 women) and 36 healthy never-smoker controls; blood collected at BC Cancer between 8:30 am and 10:00 am.
  • Whole blood was incubated for 7 h at 37 °C in 5% oxygen with PBS, E. coli, or HSV-1; plasma cytokines/chemokines were measured by Luminex and MesoScale, and PGE2, fibrinogen, and CRP by ELISA. Blood differential counts used a Coulter Ac•T diff2 analyzer; immunophenotyping used flow cytometry; T cell activation used anti-CD3 + anti-CD28.
  • Statistical comparisons used unpaired two-tailed t-tests or Mann–Whitney tests after normality/variance checks, with Pearson correlations; p < 0.05 considered significant.

Limitations

  • Stated: the sample size is relatively small, the data set is from a single time point, and it is difficult to determine the relative weight to give different biomarkers; the authors intend to expand the sample and follow participants over time to see who develops lung cancer.
  • Evident: the cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or directly predict future lung cancer, and the study reports no cancer outcomes.
  • Evident: subgroup analyses are small (e.g., 9 smokers with COPD vs 21 without; sex comparisons), and some in vitro assays gave discordant IFNγ results between whole blood and PBMC cultures.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s41598-020-76556-7

Cites

77 of 77 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Figures

Figure 1 Smokers have elevated plasma levels of CRP and fibrinogen but not PGE2. Plasma samples were analysed for (a) CRP, (b) fibrinogen and (c) PGE2 ● = non-smoking, controls; All the smokers were given a unique identifying symbol so that each smoker could be tracked from one assay to another. As well, all males were symbolized by a square and all females by a circle. The mean is shown as a horizontal line within each group. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and the non-smoking control group.
Figure 1 Smokers have elevated plasma levels of CRP and fibrinogen but not PGE2. Plasma samples were analysed for (a) CRP, (b) fibrinogen and (c) PGE2 ● = non-smoking, controls; All the smokers were given a unique identifying symbol so that each smoker could be tracked from one assay to another. As well, all males were symbolized by a square and all females by a circle. The mean is shown as a horizontal line within each group. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and the non-smoking control group.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 IL-6 and CEA are elevated in smokers. Plasma samples were analyzed for 15 cytokines/chemokines using Luminex technology. Only those cytokines/chemokines showing a trend towards different levels in smokers are shown. The mean is shown as a horizontal line within each group. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and non-smoking controls.
Figure 2 IL-6 and CEA are elevated in smokers. Plasma samples were analyzed for 15 cytokines/chemokines using Luminex technology. Only those cytokines/chemokines showing a trend towards different levels in smokers are shown. The mean is shown as a horizontal line within each group. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and non-smoking controls.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Incubation of whole blood samples from smokers yields higher levels of cytokines/chemokines in the presence or absence of HSV-1 but lower levels with E. coli. Whole fresh blood from smokers and controls were incubated for 7 h at 37 °C in the absence or presence of E. coli or HSV-1 and the conditioned plasma analyzed for the cytokine/chemokine levels using Luminex beads. (a) A comparison of plasma IL-8 levels from whole blood samples taken at time 0 or after 7 h of incubation in the absence of stimulation from smokers and controls. (b) A comparison of the plasma levels for 11 of the 15 cytokines/chemokines tested (selected on the basis of having a significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and controls). Shown are the levels obtained after 7 h of incubation without (C) or with stimulation by E. coli or HSV-1.
Figure 3 Incubation of whole blood samples from smokers yields higher levels of cytokines/chemokines in the presence or absence of HSV-1 but lower levels with E. coli. Whole fresh blood from smokers and controls were incubated for 7 h at 37 °C in the absence or presence of E. coli or HSV-1 and the conditioned plasma analyzed for the cytokine/chemokine levels using Luminex beads. (a) A comparison of plasma IL-8 levels from whole blood samples taken at time 0 or after 7 h of incubation in the absence of stimulation from smokers and controls. (b) A comparison of the plasma levels for 11 of the 15 cytokines/chemokines tested (selected on the basis of having a significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and controls). Shown are the levels obtained after 7 h of incubation without (C) or with stimulation by E. coli or HSV-1.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Whole blood samples from smokers secrete significantly more PGE2 in response to HSV-1 stimulation and more IFNγ in response to T cell stimulation than controls. (a) Whole fresh blood from smokers and controls were incubated for 7 h at 37 °C ± E. coli or HSV-1 and the conditioned plasma analyzed for PGE2 levels. (b) Whole fresh blood from smokers and controls were diluted tenfold with RPMI and incubated for 4 days at 37 °C in the absence (left panel) or presence (right panel) of anti-CD3 + anti-CD28 antibodies. (C) PBMCs from smokers and controls were incubated without T cell stimulation for 4 days in RPMI + 10% autologous plasma and the levels of IFNγ production determined. Each smoker is identified with a unique symbol. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between controls and smokers.
Figure 4 Whole blood samples from smokers secrete significantly more PGE2 in response to HSV-1 stimulation and more IFNγ in response to T cell stimulation than controls. (a) Whole fresh blood from smokers and controls were incubated for 7 h at 37 °C ± E. coli or HSV-1 and the conditioned plasma analyzed for PGE2 levels. (b) Whole fresh blood from smokers and controls were diluted tenfold with RPMI and incubated for 4 days at 37 °C in the absence (left panel) or presence (right panel) of anti-CD3 + anti-CD28 antibodies. (C) PBMCs from smokers and controls were incubated without T cell stimulation for 4 days in RPMI + 10% autologous plasma and the levels of IFNγ production determined. Each smoker is identified with a unique symbol. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between controls and smokers.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Smoking increases hematocrits, HgB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW and Pct but not RBC levels. Smokers were compared to controls for RBC, Hct, HgB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW and Pct. Each smoker is identified with a unique symbol. * Indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and non-smoking controls.
Figure 5 Smoking increases hematocrits, HgB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW and Pct but not RBC levels. Smokers were compared to controls for RBC, Hct, HgB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW and Pct. Each smoker is identified with a unique symbol. * Indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and non-smoking controls.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 6 Smoking increases monocytes and granulocytes but does not affect CD4 and CD8 T cell populations. Smokers were compared with non-smokers for (a) total white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes. Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM. (b) Smokers were compared with non-smokers for monocytes and granulocytes. (c) Smokers were compared with non-smokers for CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and their CD4/CD8 ratio. Each smoker is identified with a unique symbol in panels B and C. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and non-smokers.
Figure 6 Smoking increases monocytes and granulocytes but does not affect CD4 and CD8 T cell populations. Smokers were compared with non-smokers for (a) total white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes. Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM. (b) Smokers were compared with non-smokers for monocytes and granulocytes. (c) Smokers were compared with non-smokers for CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and their CD4/CD8 ratio. Each smoker is identified with a unique symbol in panels B and C. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and non-smokers.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 7 Smoking reduces natural killer cells and increases regulatory T cells. (a) Smokers and non-smokers were compared for CD56/CD45, CD56Bright/CD45 and CD56Dim/CD45 populations. (b) Smokers and non-smokers were compared for Treg levels. Each smoker is identified with a unique symbol. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and controls.
Figure 7 Smoking reduces natural killer cells and increases regulatory T cells. (a) Smokers and non-smokers were compared for CD56/CD45, CD56Bright/CD45 and CD56Dim/CD45 populations. (b) Smokers and non-smokers were compared for Treg levels. Each smoker is identified with a unique symbol. * indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between smokers and controls.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Metadata

Authors
Elisia, I., Lam, V., Cho, B., Hay, M., Li, M. Y., Yeung, M., Bu, L., Jia, W., Norton, N., Lam, S., & Krystal, G.
Affiliations
University of British Columbia (CA)
Corresponding author
Krystal, Gerald
Venue
Scientific Reports
Published
2020-11-10
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
19480-19480
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3098547973
Cited by
263
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 62 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 9
FWCI
13.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation (3693)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotoxicology and immune responses
Keywords
smoking, chronic inflammation, immune function, blood cell composition, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, fibrinogen, cytokines and chemokines, Escherichia coli challenge, prostaglandin E2, natural killer cells, regulatory T cells, granulocytes, monocytes, red blood cell indices, lung cancer risk, heavy smokers
MeSH terms
Aged, Blood Cell Count, C-Reactive Protein, Carcinoembryonic Antigen, Chronic Disease, Female, Fibrinogen, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Inflammation, Male, Middle Aged, Smoking, Biomarkers, Interleukin-6, Cytokines, Adaptive Immunity

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