Effects of cigarette smoke fractions on the chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The effects of cigarette smoking fractions on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis were determined using the 51Cr-assay. Water-soluble fractions (WSF) of cigarette smoke produced from several tobacco types differed in inhibitory potencies (i.e., flue cured greater than or equal to Maryland greater than or equal to blended greater than Burley greater than or equal to Turkish) corresponding to the respective unsaturated aldehyde content of the smoke from these tobaccos. Fractionation of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) demonstrated that the more polar fractions were potent inhibitors of chemotaxis whereas those containing nicotine and the polycyclic hydrocarbons were weak inhibitors of chemotaxis. Unlike the inhibitory effects of WSFs, CSC fractions did not inhibit random migration and their inhibition of chemotaxis could not be completely prevented by reduced glutathione. These data suggest that while the alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehydes present in the vapor phase of smoke are among the most potent inhibitors of in vitro PMN chemotaxis, other polar, nonvolatile constituents of cigarette smoke also inhibit chemotaxis and by a mechanism which differs from that of the unsaturated aldehydes.