Serum Cytokine Levels, Cigarette Smoking and Airway Responsiveness among Pregnant Women

Abstract

Background: Five to twenty percent of healthy, nonasthmatic individuals exhibit airway hyperreactivity. Because cytokines are important intermediates in airway responses, we investigated the relationship between serum cytokines and airway responsiveness in a well-characterized population of pregnant women. Methods: We analyzed serum levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-6, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in frozen sera from 240 pregnant nonasthmatic subjects from a previous study of airway responsiveness and preterm labor for their relationship to methacholine challenge test results. Results: Serum IFN-γ and GM-CSF levels were significantly related to levels of methacholine airway responsiveness among nonasthmatics in this population. Nonasthmatics with PD₂₀ <8 µmol (the highest level of airway responsiveness) had the highest mean serum levels of IFN-γ and GM-CSF, those with 8 ≤ PD₂₀ ≤ 50 µmol had intermediate levels, and those with PD₂₀ >50 µmol had the lowest levels. Both serum IFN-γ and GM-CSF levels were also significantly related to the log dose-response slope for methacholine responsiveness. These relationships were confirmed in a multiple linear regression analysis controlling for age, ethnic background, and cigarette smoking. Current smoking was uniformly associated with decreased cytokine levels. Conclusion: IFN-γ, GM-CSF, and other cytokines may be useful serum markers in population studies of airway responsiveness.

Association Between C Reactive Protein and Asthma

“…Kauffmann et al [65] found a positive relation in man between BHR and haptoglobin levels, and Tusoda et al [74] recently reported a positive association in pregnant women between BHR and some cytokines -including IL-6 and granulocytemacrophage colony stimulating factor. Recently, the Buyukozturk et al [75] study demonstrated that acute phase reactant serum amyloid A is raised in patients with asthma, which may indicate the presence of systemic inflammation.…”

Factors associated with inflammation markers, a cross-sectional analysis

“…Lower levels of these cytokines among smokers vs. non-smokers were observed in all four sub-studies (NYUWHS-OVCA, NYUWHS-NHL, ORDET, and NSHDS). Previous studies on current smoking and cytokines among healthy individuals have found positive [34, 44–50], inverse [51, 52], and null [49, 52–55] associations. Inconsistent findings may be a result of incomplete control for lifetime exposure to cigarette smoke (e.g.…”

Cord Blood Cytokine Profile Detection in Neonates with T1D Parents – Monitoring of Cellular Auto‐reactivity Using Protein Microarray

“…Although, there are former studies showing that there is an effect of not only infection but also of some other environmental factors on the cytokine spectrum of the cord blood, e.g. maternal smoking or air pollution [25].…”