Immunogenic properties of tobacco smoke.

The immunogenic capacity of tobacco smoke or tobacco smoke in combination with host proteins to stimulate antibody production in rabbits was investigated. Several antisera from rabbits immunized with tobacco smoke components reacted by immunoprecipitation with tobacco smoke or leaf antigens. The serum precipitins were present only in immune sera and had electrophoretic mobility and molecular size identical to immunoglobulin. These results suggest that tobacco smoke contains components capable of stimulating an immune response in rabbits. It is possible that these components are immunogenic in man, although their role as allergens remains to be determined.