Seasonal variation in the function of blood monocytes obtained from healthy nonsmokers, asymptomatic smokers, and smokers with chronic bronchitis.

The present study focused on two questions: What effects do cigarette smoking and chronic bronchitis have on the function of the precursors of alveolar macrophages, the blood monocytes? Can seasonal variations affect the function of these cells? Phagocytic activity (the proportion of yeast-ingesting cells and the mean number of yeast particles per ingesting cell) and metabolism of arachidonic acid [secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in zymosan-stimulated cultures] were studied as markers of monocyte function during three seasons: spring (May-June), autumn (November-December), and winter (February). Smokers with chronic bronchitis (SCBs) and asymptomatic smokers (ASs) had a lower proportion (p < 0.05) of ingesting monocytes than healthy nonsmokers (HNSs) during spring, but not during the other two seasons. The secretion of PGE2 was highest during autumn and lowest during spring in the monocytes of all three groups. In autumn, LTB4 secretion was increased in the monocytes of HNSs (p < 0.05) but not in those of ASs and SCBs. LTB4 secretion was similar in all groups during the other two seasons. Cigarette smoking and chronic bronchitis seem to impair the function of monocytes and may thereby affect the systemic host defense activity. Cells collected during autumn were generally more active than those sampled in spring, indicating marked seasonal variation in the function of monocytes from all three groups.