Impact of Smoking on Human Natural Killer Cell Activity: A Large Cohort Study

Abstract

Some studies have reported a decrease in the natural killer (NK) cell activity in smokers. However, large-scale data on the relationship between NK cell activity and smoking are unavailable. A cross-sectional study was performed on 12,249 asymptomatic examinees who underwent an NK cell activity test, between January 2016 and May 2017. The test quantitated the amount of interferon-γ secreted into the plasma by NK cells, using a patented stimulatory cytokine. The mean age of the study population was 39.1 years, and the proportions of "never", "former", and "current" smokers were 65.5%, 20.9%, and 13.6%, respectively. Current smokers (1,422 pg/mL) had a lower median level of NK cell activity than never smokers (1,504 pg/mL, P = 0.039) and former smokers (1,791 pg/ mL, P < 0.001). Among current smokers, NK cell activity decreased with increase in the number of cigarettes smoked among cur

Clinical Detection of Peripheral Blood Natural Killer Cell Activity

“…This method is used in the ongoing immune cell therapy project of the oncology department of our hospital to assist in the assessment of the patient's immune function status, and to provide a reference for clinical treatment as a basis for follow-up (research results have not yet been published). However, due to many personal life reasons or consumption of drugs, etc., it will affect the individual's NK cell activity products, which will bias the final test results, such as stress and sleep disorders [35] [36], take steroid drugs [35] [36] [37] [38], proton pump inhibitors [39], long-term smoking [40], drinking [41] and foods rich in zinc and selenium [42] [43], etc., will temporarily decrease or increase the value of NK cell activity high. Therefore, the clinical application of this method needs to be further verified, and the influence of more exclusionary factors needs to be considered.…”

Immunosurveillance of Cancer and Viral Infections with Regard to Alterations of Human NK Cells Originating from Lifestyle and Aging

“…In a murine lung metastasis model, cigarette smoking impaired NK-cell-dependent tumor immunosurveillance, and the resulting altered immunity was associated with an increased tumor burden [ 84 ]. Studies in humans have shown that NK cell activity is reduced in smokers [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Recently, a large cross-sectional study has shown an inverse correlation between NK cell activity and the number cigarettes smoked daily, and the total number of cigarettes smoked [ 48 ].…”

“…Studies in humans have shown that NK cell activity is reduced in smokers [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Recently, a large cross-sectional study has shown an inverse correlation between NK cell activity and the number cigarettes smoked daily, and the total number of cigarettes smoked [ 48 ]. Cigarette smoke reduces the cytolytic granules of perforin, granzymes, and granulysin on NK cells [ 49 ].…”

“…There are results indicating the NK cell count in the peripheral blood is increased [ 51 ] or decreased [ 52 ] by alcohol. Some results have shown an alcohol-related decrease in NK cell activity [ 53 , 54 ], while other studies did not find any significant effect of alcohol on NK cell activity [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. A study of nonalcoholic male volunteers administered alcohol either intravenously or orally to has showed that a single dose did not alter NK cell activity even when the blood alcohol concentrations reached 89 mg/dl.…”

Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Microbiota: Which Impact on Lung Cancer?

“…Once again, dysregulated inflammatory response may be crucial [ 17 , 18 ]. In smokers, lower circulating NK cells level may accelerate cancer progression, which in turn can lead to an exacerbation of side effects of cancer treatment [ 19 ].…”