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Effects of parental smoking on interferon gamma production in children
Gina Tebow1, Duane L Sherrill, I Carla Lohman
1Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245030, Tucson, AZ 85724-5030, USA.
Insights
Parental smoking exposure in childhood is linked to lower interferon gamma (IFN-γ) immune responses. These effects persist even when maternal smoking during pregnancy is excluded, indicating significant postnatal impacts of environmental tobacco smoke.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is linked to adverse child health outcomes, including increased infections.
- Potential mechanisms involve impaired immune system development and function.
- The impact of cumulative parental smoking on childhood immune responses, independent of in utero exposure, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between parental smoking and children's immune responses.
- To assess the relationship between parental smoking and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) production at age 11.
- To determine if postnatal ETS exposure has effects independent of prenatal exposure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 512 children in the Tucson Children's Respiratory Study cohort.
- Collected prospective data on maternal and paternal smoking habits and calculated pack-years from pregnancy to age 11.
- Measured IFN-γ and IL-4 production from mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells at age 11.
Main Results:
- Children of parents who smoked showed lower IFN-γ production compared to children of non-smokers.
- Significant inverse dose-response relationships were observed between parental smoking (maternal, paternal, combined pack-years) and child IFN-γ production.
- Postnatal smoking effects on IFN-γ were evident, particularly for paternal and combined pack-years, even in children whose mothers did not smoke during pregnancy. No effects on IL-4 were found.
Conclusions:
- Parental smoking negatively impacts school-aged children's interferon gamma immune responses.
- Postnatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure plays a significant role in altering immune function.
- Interleukin 4 production was not significantly affected by parental smoking.
Objectives:
Environmental tobacco smoke is associated with several negative health outcomes in children, including an increased susceptibility to infections. One of the postulated mechanisms for these effects is the impairment of the immune system function and/or development. Yet, it remains unknown whether cumulative exposure to parental smoking is associated with altered immune responses in childhood and whether these effects are independent of in utero exposure to maternal smoking. In a population-based birth cohort, we sought to determine the relation of parental smoking, as assessed prospectively since pregnancy, to the child's interferon gamma and interleukin 4 production at 11 years of age.
Patients And Methods:
We used data on 512 children and their parents from the Tucson Children's Respiratory Study cohort. Information on maternal and paternal smoking was collected prospectively by questionnaire, and pack-years for mother, father, and both parents combined were assessed prospectively between the prenatal period and year 11. At age 11 years, children's interferon gamma and interleukin 4 production from mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured.
Results:
Children of parents who smoked between the prenatal period and year 11 were more likely to be in lower quartiles of interferon gamma production than children of nonsmoking parents. In addition, maternal, paternal, and parental pack-years showed significant inverse dose-response relationships with interferon gamma production in the child. These dose-response relationships with interferon gamma remained significant for both paternal and parental pack-years among children of mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy, suggesting the existence of specific postnatal effects of environmental tobacco smoke exposure. In contrast, no significant effects of parental smoking were found on interleukin 4 production.
Conclusions:
Interferon gamma responses of school-aged children are impacted by parental smoking.
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