Modulation of in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by nicotine and cotinine.

The influence of nicotine and its main metabolite cotinine on the spontaneous and cytokine-induced immunoglobulin synthesis was studied. The immunoglobulin (G,A) synthesis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was altered by nicotine donor dependently in the concentration range from 10(-6) to 10(-8) M. Cotinine also modulates immunoglobulin (G, A) synthesis. The effective concentration range is about 100 fold higher. Only marginal effects on IgM synthesis were observed. Neither nicotine nor cotinine showed any effect on IgE production or on the IgE class switch. Moreover, both agents induced the production of the cytokines interleukin-1 alpha, -2, -3, -4, and -6. Therefore it is suggested that the strongly donor-dependent heterogeneity in the response to nicotine or cotinine is the result of the fine balance of the induced cytokines.