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Effects of Nicotine on the Functions of Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes In Vitro
Author(s) -
Sasagawa Sumiko,
Suzuki Kazuo,
Sakatani Tatsuichiro,
Fujikura Toshio
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.37.5.493
Subject(s) - nicotine , chemokinesis , biology , extracellular , chemotaxis , superoxide , cytochalasin b , enzyme , biochemistry , in vitro , mechanism of action , granulocyte , pharmacology , immunology , receptor , neuroscience
Effects of nicotine on migration, extracellular release of lysosomal enzymes, and superoxide anion (O 2 ) production of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were studied. Nicotine (5 × 10 −6 to 5 × 10 −4 M) had no effect on random migration, chemotaxis to fMet‐Leu‐Phe, nor on chemokinesis induced by fMet‐Leu‐Phe. Nicotine, however, inhibited both extracellular release of lysosomal enzymes from PMN and O 2 production of PMN, both of which were induced by fMet‐Leu‐Phe and cytochalasin B. The inhibition of enzyme release and O 2 production by nicotine was not affected by atropine, hexame‐ thonium, or acetyl β ‐methylcholine, suggesting a direct action of nicotine on PMN functions. It is presumed that nicotine does not affect PMN migration to inflammatory sites, but inhibits the microbicidal functions of PMN. Exposure to PMN to nicotine introduced into the body by smoking could suppress their functions. This might result in harmful influences on the host defense mechanism, including antitumor function.