We found that current smoking status, defined by serum cotinine levels, was significantly associated with serum levels of markers related to inflammation and macrophage activation (MCP1 and sgp130), Th2 immune response (CCL17/TARC and BAFF) and microbial translocation (haptoglobin) pathways, markers that are associated with both HL and NHL [15,21,36]. The gene discussed is IL6ST; the disease is non-Hodgkin lymphoma.