title: Ethanol inhibits interferon-gamma secretion by human peripheral lymphocytes.
abstract: Clinical and epidemiological evidence exists that subjects who chronically abuse alcohol are disposed to infections and certain types of cancer. In vitro inhibition of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation has been shown suggesting a direct immunosuppressive effect of ethanol. Using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells we could demonstrate in vitro for the first time that even low ethanol concentrations of 6 and 12.5 mM significantly inhibit spontaneous and mitogen-induced secretion of interferon-gamma. This effect was more pronounced with lower mitogen stimulation and it increased in a dose dependent manner when higher ethanol concentrations were used. Inhibition of cell proliferation as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation did not parallel the inhibition of interferon-gamma secretion. As this lymphokine exerts a great number of immunostimulating effects, diminished secretion might well contribute to the immune defect observed in alcoholics.
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik Technischen Universität München, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lersch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dancygier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Classen
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D007371:Interferon-gamma