Smoking enhances proliferation, inflammatory markers, and immunoglobulins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Graves' patients

Graves’ disease (GD) and Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) are complex autoimmune diseases. This study delved into the impact of cigarette smoke extract (CSE), simvastatin, and/or diclofenac on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Specifically, we explored alterations in IL-1B, IL-6, PTGS2 expression, B- and T-lymphocyte proliferation, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) production. We also assessed IGF1's influence on B- and T-lymphocyte proliferation. PBMCs from Graves’ patients were exposed to CSE with/without simvastatin and/or diclofenac. Gene and protein expression was compared with untreated PBMCs. B- and T-lymphocyte proliferation was assessed following IGF1 treatment. PBMCs exposed toCSE exhibited increased gene expression of IL-1B (6-fold), IL-6 (10-fold), and PTGS2 (5.6-fold), and protein levels of IL-1B (4-fold), IL-6 (16-fold) and PGE2 (3.7-fold) compared with untreated PBMCs. Simvastatin and/or diclofenac downregulated the gene expression of PTGS2 (0.5-fold), IL-6 (0.4-fold), and IL-1B (0.6-fold), and the protein levels of IL-1B (0.6-fold), IL-6 (0.6-fold) and PGE2 (0.6-fold) compared with untreated PBMCs. CSE exposure in PBMCs increased the proliferation of B- and T-lymphocytes by 1.3-fold and 1.4-fold, respectively, compared with untreated. CSE exposure increased IgG (1.5-fold) in supernatant from PBMCs isolated from Graves’ patients. IGF1 treatment increased the proliferation of B- and T-lymphocytes by 1.6-fold. Simvastatin downregulated the proliferation of B- and T-lymphocytes by 0.7-fold. Our study shows that CSE significantly upregulated the gene expression and release of the inflammatory markers PTGS2, IL-6 and IL-1B, the IgG levels, and the proliferation of B- and T-lymphocytes. Additionally, IGF1 increased the proliferation of B- and T-lymphocytes. Finally, these effects were decreased by diclofenac and/or simvastatin treatment.