Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Adolescent nicotine: deficits in immune function.

H A Navarro¹, P V Basta, F J Seidler

¹Center for Chemistry and Life Sciences, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.

Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research

|October 25, 2001

Summary

Adolescent nicotine exposure disrupts T-cell function, leading to lasting immune deficiencies. This study highlights the adolescent immune system

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Safety and efficacy of an oxycodone vaccine: Addressing some of the unique considerations posed by opioid abuse.

PloS one·2017

Same author

Role of ornithine decarboxylase and the polyamines in nervous system development: Short-term postnatal administration of α-difluoromethylornithine, an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase.

International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·2014

Same author

Critical periods for the role of ornithine decarboxylase and the polyamines in growth and development of the rat: Effects of exposure to α-difluoromethylornithine during discrete prenatal or postnatal intervals.

International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·2014

Same author

Can intracellular signalling pathways predict developmental abnormalities?

Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals·2013

Same author

Neuroinflammation and behavioral abnormalities after neonatal terbutaline treatment in rats: implications for autism.

The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics·2007

Same author

Beta-adrenoceptor control of G protein function in the neonate: determinant of desensitization or sensitization.

American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology·2002

Area of Science:

Immunology
Neuroscience
Developmental Biology

Background:

Maternal smoking during pregnancy alters offspring immune function.
Prenatal nicotine exposure causes lasting T-lymphocyte deficiencies via cholinergic stimulation.
Adolescence is a critical period for immune system development and the onset of smoking.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if adolescent nicotine exposure impacts T-cell immune responses.
To determine the vulnerability of the adolescent immune system to nicotine-induced mis-programming.

Main Methods:

Adolescent rats received nicotine infusions (25 ng/ml) from postnatal day 30 to 47.5.
Splenocyte mitogenic responses to Concanavalin A were assessed at PN45 and PN80.
Nicotine levels mimicked those in human smokers and transdermal nicotine users.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

No immune deficiencies were observed immediately after nicotine exposure (PN45).
Significant decreases in T-cell mitogenic responses were evident one month post-exposure (PN80).
Deficits in T-cell function occurred at both suboptimal and optimal Concanavalin A concentrations.

Conclusions:

The adolescent immune system is vulnerable to nicotine-induced disruption of T-cell function.
Nicotine exposure during adolescence can lead to long-term immune system deficits.
These findings suggest adolescent smoking may have lasting consequences on immune health.