Smoking Associated T-Cell Imbalance in Patients With Chronic Pain

Heyn, Jens; Luchting, Benjamin und Azad, Shahnaz C. (2020): Smoking Associated T-Cell Imbalance in Patients With Chronic Pain. In: Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Bd. 22, Nr. 1: S. 111-117

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking is associated with several diseases and affects the immune system. Recently, published data demonstrate an involvement of T helper 17 cells (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the pathogenesis of chronic pain and pain intensity. The role of these T-cell subsets in smoking patients with chronic pain is nebulous so far. We therefore analyzed Th17 cells and Tregs in smokers and nonsmokers with chronic pain. Methods: Analyses of T-cell subsets, mRNA expression and T-cell related cytokine profiles were done in 44 patients with chronic pain. Twenty-two of these patients were smokers. Numbers of T-cell subsets were quantified by flow cytometry. mRNA expression of the Th17- (RAR-related orphan receptor gamma) and Treg (forkhead box protein P3)-specific transcription factors was determined by quantitative real-time PCR, and levels of cytokines were measured by Human Cytokine Multiplex Immunoassay. Results: Compared to nonsmokers, smokers showed significantly enhanced pain levels. On cellular basis, the number of pro-inflammatory Th17 cells (smokers: 2.2 +/- 2.5% vs. nonsmokers: 0.5 +/- 0.4%;p = .04) was increased, whereas the number of anti-inflammatory Tregs (smokers: 2.5 +/- 0.9% vs. nonsmokers: 3.1 +/- 1.1%;p = .02) was significantly decreased, resulting in an altered Th17/Treg ratio (Th17/Treg ratio: 0.9 +/- 1.0 in smokers vs. 0.2 +/- 0.1 in nonsmokers;p < .01). These findings were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Analyses of cytokines revealed only marginal changes. Conclusions: In patients with chronic pain, smoking is associated with enhanced pain levels together with an imbalance of the Th17/Treg ratio. The shift of the Th17/Treg ratio toward inflammation may explain in part the increased pain intensity in these patients.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Medizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 1462-2203
• Sprache: Englisch