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Summary
Cigarette smoking significantly increases degranulated basophils, suggesting these cells release histamine. This histamine release may mediate the immediate bronchoconstriction observed after smoking.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Histamine is implicated as a mediator of immediate bronchoconstriction following cigarette smoking.
- Basophils are the primary reservoir of histamine in human blood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute effects of cigarette smoking on basophils.
- To determine if cigarette smoking induces histamine release from basophils.
Main Methods:
- Collected capillary blood from 27 healthy young male smokers before and after smoking.
- Concentrated basophils using a millipore membrane filter technique.
- Classified basophils as intact or degranulated based on toluidine blue staining of cytoplasmic granules.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in degranulated basophils was observed post-smoking (p < 0.001).
- A significant decrease in intact basophils was noted after smoking (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Cigarette smoking causes a significant degranulation of basophils.
- These findings support the hypothesis that cigarette smoking induces histamine release, potentially contributing to smoking-induced bronchoconstriction.