Tobacco smoke is related to Th17 generation with clinical implications for psoriasis patients

• Published in: Experimental dermatology 2011-04, Vol.20 (4), p.371-373
• Main Authors: Torii, Kan, Saito, Chiyo, Furuhashi, Takuya, Nishioka, Akiko, Shintani, Yoichi, Kawashima, Kana, Kato, Hiroshi, Morita, Akimichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Autoimmune diseases; Biological and medical sciences; CD3 antigen; CD3 Complex - metabolism; Cell activation; Cells, Cultured; central memory T cell; Dermatology; Environmental factors; Helper cells; Humans; Immunological memory; Interleukin 17; Interleukin 22; Interleukin-17 - metabolism; Interleukins - metabolism; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphocytes T; Medical sciences; Memory cells; Middle Aged; PBMC; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Psoriasis; Psoriasis - immunology; Psoriasis. Parapsoriasis. Lichen; Smoke; Smoking - adverse effects; Smoking - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - metabolism; Th17; Tobacco smoke; Tobacco smoking; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0906-6705; 1600-0625
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2010.01224.x

:  Environmental factors contribute to the increased prevalence of autoimmune diseases via T helper type‐17 cell (Th17) activation. Tobacco smoking increases the risk of psoriasis, but the mechanisms are not clear. We evaluated the percentage of circulating Th17 among CD3+ cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from 27 healthy volunteers (2.58 ± 0.80%), 33 smoker (3.55 ± 1.33%) and 21 non‐smoker (3.10 ± 1.14%) patients with psoriasis to elucidate the relation between smoking and psoriasis. More smokers (19/33) than non‐smokers (6/21) had high Th17 levels (Th17/CD3 > 3.38%, mean + 1 SD of healthy volunteers). Tobacco smoke extract (TSE, 7 μl/ml) induced Th17 generation from central memory T cells in vitro. TSE increased interleukin 17 and 22 expression. These findings demonstrate the relation between tobacco smoke and IL‐17 and IL‐22, which exacerbate psoriasis.