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Background: The phagocytic activity of macrophages is important to clear naturally occurring circulating immune complex (CIC) from the body. Smoking leads to a decrease in their phagocytic ability.
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate CIC in healthy smokers.
Methods: The study included 33 subjects, divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 18 healthy smokers [female/male: 12/6, mean age: 34 (23-57), mean duration of smoking: 12.5 years (6- 30 years)]. Group 2 included 15 healthy nonsmokers [female/male: 9/6, mean age: 30 (25-48)]. The symptoms associated with circulating immune complex diseases were investigated. General physical examination and examination directed to autoimmune and collagen-vascular diseases were performed. Serum and urine samples were obtained for analysis in all subjects.
Results: Protein electrophoresis was in normal ranges.Rheumatoid factor, anti-DNA, Coomb’s test, and cryoglobulin examination were negative in all subjects. Protein was not found in the urine samples. Mean serum Ig G and IgA levels was lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p <0.05). There was no significant difference between groups with respect to mean serum IgE and IgM levels. Serum C3 levels were higher in the smoker subjects (p=0.002). Mean CIC level was 0.263 ±0.183 mgEq/ml in group 1 and was 0.216±0.104 mgEq/ml in group 2 (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Our results suggest that smoking does not lead to immune complex diseases. We conclude that while this result is being evaluated, several factors such as the role of differences in immune complexes, research methods, selection of the subjects, and low number of the subjects should be taken into account.