Hardwood smoke alters murine splenic T cell responses to mitogens following a 6-month whole body inhalation exposure.

The purpose of these studies was to assess the effects of hardwood smoke (HWS) inhalation (30-1000 microg/m3) on the systemic immune responses of A/J mice evaluated after 6 months of daily exposures. Spleen cells obtained from mice were assessed for changes in cell number, cell surface marker expression [B, T, macrophage, and natural killer (NK) cells], and responses to B cell (LPS, endotoxin) and T cell (Con A) mitogens. Results showed that HWS smoke increased T cell proliferation in the 100 microg/m3 exposure group and produced a concentration-dependent suppression of T cell proliferation at concentrations >300 microg/m3.