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Th1 and Th2 Cytokines and IgE Levels in Identical Twins with Varying Levels of Cigarette Consumption

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Abstract

Some have suggested that tobacco smoke may skew the immune system toward a Th2 pattern, however the effects of genetics or childhood exposures could explain these results. We compared PMBC supernatant or serum Th1 (INF-γ) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) cytokine and IgE levels in members of 45 pairs of nonasthmatic monozygotic twins with varying levels of current cigarette consumption to determine if smoking was associated with Th1/Th2 function after accounting for genetic factors. A statistically significant dose-response was observed between levels of smoking and IL-13 (p=0.05). Mean IL-13 level among heavy smokers (20+ cigarettes/day) was 146% higher than that among nonsmokers (+26.2 pg/mL; p=0.04). The mean IL-5 level among heavy smokers was 166% higher than that among light (<20 cigarettes/day) smokers (+3.4 pg/mL; p=0.03). No statistically significant differences in INF-γ, IL-4, or IgE levels were observed. Smoking appears to be associated with increased levels of IL-13.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

    WENDY COZEN, W. JAMES GAUDERMAN, JOHN ZADNICK, MYLES G. COCKBURN, ANN S. HAMILTON & THOMAS M. MACK

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

    WENDY COZEN & RIZWAN MASOOD

  3. Department of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

    DAVID DIAZ-SANCHEZ & MINNA JYRALA

  4. Department of Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

    PARKASH S. GILL

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  1. WENDY COZEN
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  2. DAVID DIAZ-SANCHEZ
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  3. W. JAMES GAUDERMAN
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  4. JOHN ZADNICK
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  5. MYLES G. COCKBURN
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  8. ANN S. HAMILTON
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Correspondence to WENDY COZEN.

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COZEN, W., DIAZ-SANCHEZ, D., JAMES GAUDERMAN, W. et al. Th1 and Th2 Cytokines and IgE Levels in Identical Twins with Varying Levels of Cigarette Consumption. J Clin Immunol 24, 617–622 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-004-6247-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-004-6247-0

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