The adenoids are exposed to a wide number and variety of microbes,
environmental pollutants, and food
antigens. Atopy and passive
smoke may significantly affect immune responses, mainly in children. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether passive exposure to tobacco
smoke and/or atopy could affect
immunoglobulin production by adenoidal lymphocytes in a cohort of children presenting with adenoid
hypertrophy. A total of 277 children (151 males and 126 females; median age 5.5 years), with adenoidal
hypertrophy requiring
adenoidectomy and or adeno-
tonsillectomy, were consecutively enrolled in the study. Adenoid mononuclear cells were in vitro stimulated with LPS or CpG. When considering both the presence of
smoke exposure and atopy, we observed that the CpG-induced decrease in
IgA and
IgM production was significantly associated with this combination of risk factors. In the T-independent
immunoglobulin production assay we found a positive association between the two risk factors and
IgA and
IgM production. In particular, the presence of both risk factors, showed a significant increase in
IgA and
IgM production after stimulation. In conclusion, this is the first study that investigated the in vitro adenoidal B cell response after different stimuli in children, also evaluating possible exposure to passive
smoke and/or an atopic condition.