N-Acetylcysteine and Smoking Effects on B Cell Development
Author Information
Author(s): Palmer Victoria L., Kassmeier Michele D., Willcockson James, Akhter Mohammed P., Cullen Diane M., Swanson Patrick C.
Primary Institution: Creighton University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Does N-acetylcysteine treatment prevent smoking-induced loss of developing B cells?
Conclusion
N-acetylcysteine treatment does not prevent the loss of bone marrow pre-B cells caused by smoking but increases the frequency of pro-B/pre-B cells.
Supporting Evidence
- Smoke exposure caused a significant reduction in developing B cells.
- N-acetylcysteine treatment increased total bone marrow cellularity.
- N-acetylcysteine did not affect the percentage of apoptotic cells.
Takeaway
This study looked at how smoking affects certain immune cells in mice and found that a treatment called N-acetylcysteine didn't stop the damage from smoking but actually increased some types of these immune cells.
Methodology
Mice were exposed to cigarette smoke with or without N-acetylcysteine treatment, and bone marrow B cell subsets were analyzed.
Limitations
The study was underpowered for statistical analysis due to an omission of a key antibody in one set of samples.
Participant Demographics
Adult female C57BL/6 mice, aged 4-5 months.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.045
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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