Nicotinic regulation of hematopoiesis

Chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) contributes to increased myelopoiesis. Since nicotine activates the SNS, chronic nicotine consumption may also increase myelopoiesis. This is relevant to human health outcomes because myelopoiesis contributes to the progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. To address this, mice were provided high dose nicotine in drinking water for two and three weeks, and leukocyte production and distribution were assessed. Nicotine supplementation for two weeks did not alter the production or distribution of leukocytes, but three weeks of nicotine increased hematopoietic progenitor proliferation in the spleen and mildly increased leukocyte counts in the spleen but not blood. Next, the sympathomimetic drug guanethidine was used to assess the effect of SNS inhibition during nicotine exposure. In this study, guanethidine did not influence leukocyte distribution or production in mice treated with nicotine. Collectively, three weeks of nicotine supplementation enhanced splenic hematopoiesis without meaningfully increasing the systemic leukocyte supply.U of I OnlyAuthor requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD syste