Abstract
This study objective was to investigate the effect of smoking on the percentages of alpha beta-T-cells and gamma delta-T-cells in peripheral blood of healthy subjects. Samples were collected from 32 participants from Taif city and 24 from Makkah. Taif city is a high-altitude city 1879 meters above sea level and naturally oxygen levels are lower than in Makkah. A total of 15 cigarette-smokers, 25 shisha-smokers and 16 non-smokers participated in this study from Taif city and Makkah. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from donors and separated by density gradient. They were then stained by anti-alpha beta-TCR, anti-gamma delta-TCR, anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies. Proportions of alpha beta-T-cells, CD4+ alpha beta-T-cells and CD8+ gamma delta-T-cells were expanded in both groups of smokers. However, CD4+ alpha beta-T-cells, gamma delta-T-cells and double-negative gamma delta-T-cells declined in shisha-smokers in Taif. High-altitude can affect the percentage of alpha beta-T-cells, and gamma delta-T-cells especially in shisha-smokers.