Modulation of the primary and the secondary antibody response by tobacco smoke condensates.

Cigarette smoke condensate administered to C57BL/6 mice led to a decrease in the primary antibody response to OVA (hen egg albumin) antigen. Selenium (Se)-supplementation allowed to relieve significantly this inhibition. Moreover, even being not supplemented with Se, a preparation was found devoid of inhibitory effects. Furthermore, the presence of Se-supplemented tobacco smoke condensate at the time of antigen priming, contributed to an enhanced secondary antibody response.

In vitro and in vivo immunotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of nonsupplemented and selenium-supplemented cigarette smoke condensate.

Cigarette smoke condensate has been evaluated for its in vitro and in vivo immunotoxic and immunomodulatory properties. It was found that cigarette smoke condensate used in vitro at concentration from 6.6 to 20 microg/ml exerted pronounced inhibitory effects upon cell surface antigen-presenting major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) expression and immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis. In vivo, i.p. administration of cigarette smoke condensate to C57BL/6 mice before challenging with ovalbumin (OVA) antigen, has led to a decrease of anti-OVA specific antibody response. This inhibition affected more Ig protein synthesis than membrane bound MHC-I expression. Supplementation with selenium (Se) significantly reduced the inhibitory effects both in vitro and in vivo.