Alteration of some vital parameters in Saudi smokers [601920]

Alteration of some vital parameters in Saudi smokers
Tarek Salem, Alwaleed M Almejlad , Muhammad H Alharbi , Sultan E Almalik ,
Sulaiman S Alharbi, Abdullah S Alshammari, Sultan Almutrafi and Abdullah H
Alharbi
College of Medicine, Qassim University, KSA

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate the effect of cigarettes smoking on some
immunolo gical and oxidative markers in Saudi healthy smokers. The study was
conducted on 30 male healthy cigarette smokers with mean age± SD of 2 5±4 years, in
addition to healthy non -smokers with the same age group. Total leucocytic count,
plasma immunoglobulin G ( IgG) and complement 3 ( C3) levels w ere determin ed.
Also, plasma activities of c atalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were
estimated. Results showed significant decreases in the activities of antioxidant
enzymes as compared to non -smoker. Moreover, r esults illustrated that the levels of
IgG and C3 were markedly reduced in cigarette smokers when compared to those of
non-smokers.

Key words : Cigarette Smoking – Catalase – Immunoglobulin G – Complement

Introduction
Smoking is considered as a major ri sk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary
diseases, and cardiovascular diseases causing endothelial dysfunction in the systemic
circulation (Raij et al., 2001). In addition, smoking is an important reason of human
cancer in a variety of organs including lungs, larynx, oral and esophagus . More than
85 % of all lung cancer is linked to tobacco smoking (Williams and Sandler, 2001) .
There are a wide range of mutagens and carcinogens in cigarette smoke including
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amine s and aldehydes . These reactive
substances induce cellular oxidati ve damage (Stabbert et al., 2003) .
Moreover, cigarette smoking has an impact on multiple immune cells, leading to a
generalized leukocytosis, influencing the production of most immunoglobuli n classes,

induces T cell anergy, and causes inappropriate priming and activation of monocytes
and neutrophils and increase in the inflammatory markers (Scott and Palmer, 2002).
A previous study indicated that smoking prevalence in among Saudi populations is
high and varies according to the different age groups (Bassiony, 2009).

Materials and methods
Subjects and sampling
The current study was conducted on thirty Saudi male healthy smokers. Individuals
were randomly selected from our colleagues and relat ives. At the time of study, they
were not suffering from any chronic disease or smoking -related illness. All smokers
have cigarettes smoking for the last 4 years with at least 20 to 30 cigarettes a day. The
smoking index was calculated according to Brinkma n’s equation (Takeuchi et al.,
2004) as follows:
Brinkman’s smoking index = No. of cigarettes per day x No. of years

Determination of Serum total immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement 3 (C3):
Serum total IgG and C3 were measured according to the method of Butts et al. (1977)
using ASTRA kit.
Determination of catalase activity in plasma
Catalase (CAT) activity in plasma was determined according to the method of Aebi
(1984) . Briefly, 50 µl of plasma was incubated with 0.5 ml of substrate (H 2O2) for 1
minute at RT, and then the chromogen was added and incubated for 10 minutes at
37oC. The activity of catalase was detected colorimetrically by measuring the amount
of excess H 2O2 reacted w ith the chromogen at 520 nm .
Determination of superoxide dismutase activit y in plasma
The activity of SOD in plasma was determined according to the procedure of
Nishikimi et al. (1987) . Briefly, the reaction mixture was composed of 0.1 ml nitro –
blue tetrazolium (NBT), 0.1 mL of NADH, 0.1 ml of sodium pyrophosphate buffer,
0.05 m l of brain homogenate and 0.01ml of phenazine mesosulphate (PMS). The
reaction was initiated by the addition of PMS and the increase in absorbance at 560

nm was followed with Perkin Elmer Lambda -1 UV/VIS spectrophotometer
(Beckman, USA), for five minutes.

Statistical analysis
The results were expressed as mean ± SD for 10 individuals in each group.
Differences between groups were assesed by t-test analysis of variance using the MS
Excel software. Statstical significance at P < 0.05 was considered signif icant.

Results

Table (1): Immunological parameters in control s and smokers

Controls Smokers
Total WBCs
(109/L) 4.3 ± 1.1 7.8 ± 2.3
C3
(mg/dl) 95.8 ± 9.3 118.5 ± 11.1
IgG
(mg/dl) 878.5 ± 60.2 668.5 ± 74.5

Table (2): Plasma activities of CAT an d SOD in control s and smokers
Controls Smokers
Catalase (U/ml) 71.4 ± 17.1 65.8 ± 12.3
SOD (U/ml) 181.3 ± 21.1 145.4 ± 1 4.1

Table (1 ) illustrates some immunological parameters. Results revealed that total
leukocytic count is significantly increased in smokers when compared to that of
controls. In addition, s mokers groups showed a significant decrease in serum IgG

levels compared with control group (P<0.05) while serum C3 levels showed
significant increases compared with control group (P<0.05) .
As shown in table (2), the activity of catalase in plasma of smokers was non –
significant statistically decreased as compared to that of the controls. While, SOD
activity was significantly decreased in the plasma of smokers when compared to that
of controls.
Discu ssion
Cigarette smoking is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide . Tobacco is
linked to increased risk for heart diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
respiratory tract infections and lung cancer. Meanwhile, cigarette smokers exhibit a
delayed recovery from injuries (Sopori, 2002).
The present study revealed disturbances in investigated immunologic parameters
among smokers groups when compared with those of non -smokers. Results of the
current study showed a significant increase in WBCs i n the blood of cigarette smokers
as compared with that of non -smokers. Also, the results illustrated that cigarette
smoking significantly reduced the level of total IgG as compared to that of the non –
smokers. In contrast , serum level of C3 was increased in cigarette smokers as
compared to that of the non -smokers.
Similarly, many studies reported that serum IgG and IgM levels were depressed as a
result of cigarette smoking (Quinn et al., 1996 and McMillan et al., 1997) . Also,
Sopori et al. (2005) revealed t hat exposure to nicotine or cigarette smoke can inhibit
antibody forming cells resulting in reduction in most of immunoglobulin classes.
Also, these results indicate that tobacco smoke extract products activate both the
alternative and classical pathways o f complement; where, C3 is the major component
in the complement cascade and is essential for the activation of both classical and
alternative pathways and is a key protein in the innate immune system. Similar results
were reported by Kawada (2004) and Sol iman et al. (2006) who proved that
cigarette smokers had higher neutrophils count.
Moreover, results illustrated that plasma level of CAT was non -statistically decreased ,
and SOD was statistically decreased in smokers as compared to th ose of controls.
Thes e findings may prove that cigarette smoking may affect the oxidative status

resulting in augmentation of cellular damage. It can be concluded that cigarettes
smoking induces the inflammatory reactions in the human body.

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