Effects of nicotine and exposure to cigarette smoke on suppression of local graft-versus-host reaction induced by immobilization stress in mice

To study the effects of emotional stress on immunological activities and modification of these effects by nicotine or cigarette smoke, we evaluated the effects of immobilization stress on local graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction, a cell-mediated immune response, and the effects of nicotine and cigarette smoke on them. The effects of immobilization stress on GVH reaction and the effects of nicotine and cigarette smoke on them were evaluated in two experiments: in Experiment 1 by applying the stimulations before and immediately afer spleen cell transplantation, and in Experiment 2, by applying stimulations after transplantation. Spleen cells of BALB/C mice were injected into the footpad of CBF1 mice, and GVH reaction was examined after 7 days by weighing the popliteal lymph nodes. Immobilization, nicotine administration and inhalation of cigarette smoke were performed either for 5 days before and immediately after the transplantation (Experiment 1) or for 5 days after transplantation (Experiment 2). The weight of the lymph nodes was markedly increased in the control group, indicating GVH reaction, but the reaction was suppressed by immobilization in both experiments. This suppression of GVH reaction by immobilization was antagonized by nicotine administration and exposure to cigarette smoke in Experiment 1 but not in Experiment 2. These findings suggest that nicotine and cigarette smoke induce recovery of immune response suppressed by immobilization stress, especially by increasing the competence of antigen recognition.