Factor de necrosis tumoral alpha como marcador de inflamación en fumadores sanos

Resumen

The aims of this study were to demonstrate an inflammatory status of healthy smokers in comparison to a group of healthy non smokers by measuring the levels of a proinflammatory citokyne: TNF-α. We also wanted to know whether there was influence of gender, age and weight on TNF-α levels; and to determine the association between smoking, pulmonary function and TNF-α. We made a prospective study of smokers and non-smokers without any known disease. Respiratory function tests, samples of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and blood were performed before smoking cessation. Statistical analysis were made with SPSS 11.0. We studied 51 patients, 60,8% smokers (n = 31), 56,9% female (n = 29), mean age 39,88 +/- 7,61 years old, and mean body mass index (BMI) 25,33 +/- 5,74 kg/m2. There were no significant differences between the two groups, except for BMI that was higher in smokers (26,50 vs 23,53 kg/m2, p = 0,044). Smokers had significant higher levels of TNF-α in plasma (6,54 pg/ml vs 5,88 pg/ml, p = 0,043), but there were no differences in TNF-α in EBC (4,03 pg/ml vs 4,05 pg/ml, p = 0,89). Age and BMI has an influence on the levels of serum TNF-α, but not in EBC values. Of the parameters of smoking studied, only the age when smoking first began had an influence on TNF-α plasma values, but not in EBC TNF-α levels. In terms of lung function, we just found a correlation between FVC and FEV1 (porcentual values) with serum TNF-α (not in EBC). In conclusion, we can say that healthy smokers showed higher levels of TNF-α in serum but not in EBC when compared to non smokers. There was an influence of body mass index on serum TNF-α levels. The time when smoking started is the main data of tobacco consumption that influenced the levels of TNF-α in plasma. There was a correlation between lung function and serum TNF-α.