Premium
Humoral immunity to herpes simplex viral‐induced antigens in smokers
Author(s) -
Smith Howard G.,
Horowitz Nina,
Silverman Norman A.,
Henson Donald E.,
Chretien Paul B.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197609)38:3<1155::aid-cncr2820380317>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - medicine , antibody , immunology , titer , antigen , humoral immunity , herpes simplex virus , population , immunity , antibody titer , cigarette smoking , virus , immune system , environmental health
Antibodies to herpes simplex viral‐induced antigens (HSVIA) were assayed by an indirect immunofluorescent technique in 93 regular cigarette smokers, 75 of whom also imbibed alcoholic beverages. Controls were 94 nonsmoking, non‐drinking volunteers matched with the smokers for age and sex. IgA antibodies to HSVIA were detected six times more frequently in the sera of smokers than in nonsmoking controls, p < 0.0005. IgG and IgM anti‐HSVIA were detected with comparable frequencies in both groups, but the antibody titers were significantly higher in the smoking group than in controls, p < 0.05. IgA anti‐HSVIA was detected more frequently in smokers with 10 or more pack‐years of cigarette exposure than in smokers with 10 or less pack‐years of smoking (p < 0.05) or in matched nonsmokers (p < 0.02). IgA antibody titers to HSVIA were significantly higher in cigarette smokers who drank alcoholic beverages than in smokers who did not drink, p < 0.025. This study demonstrates that cigarette smoking and the use of alcoholic beverages are associated with heightened humoral immunity to HSV‐induced antigens in a population at high risk for development of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region.