The immunological response to tobacco antigens in the smoker. I. Specific precipitins against tobacco antigens in the serum of healthy cigarette smokers.

: A study on the presence of specific precipitins against tobacco antigens was done in a population of 361 healthy cigrette smokers and in a group of 60 healthy non-smokers. The tests were made by the gel diffusion technique of Ouchterlony using tobacco extract prepared by the Coca method. A positive precipitation reaction was observed in 11.8 per cent of the smokers' sera examined but never in the non-smokers group. The reaction occurred in subjects of both sexes and was neither dependent upon how long they had smoked nor on the number of cigarettes smoked daily. In the authors' opinion, the formation of precipitins against tobacco antigens may be the result of a sensitivity reaction. It is therefore possible that in predisposed individuals immune complexes of precipitins and tobacco antigens may be formed. They could be responsible for some cardiovascular disorders occuring in smokers. In order to confirm such a hypothesis, a study was carried out recently by the authors on a large group of patients suffering from coronary disease.