Résumé
Tobacco smoking induces an increased nonspecific IgE response. IgE synthesis is controlled by IL-4 and IFN-γ. The effect of nicotine (10 –– 10 to 10 ––5 M), one of the major components of tobacco smoke, were studied on IL-4 and IFN-γ release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 12 allergic patients and 12 nonallergic subjects and 16 T cell clones stimulated by nonspecific agonists (phorbol myristate acetate and calcium ionophore). The release of IL-4 and IFN-γ was measured by ELISA in supernatants after a 48-hour culture. Nicotine did not modify IL-4 and IFN-γ release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells or T cell clones. The effects of tobacco smoke on IgE production are unlikely to change in the T cell phenotype by nicotine.