Ethanol inhibits production of messenger ribonucleic acid for kappa-chain in stimulated B lymphocytes.
Alcohol consumption can adversely affect an individual's response to infection. We have shown that alcohol has a direct suppressive effect on numbers of antibody-secreting cells in antigen-activated B lymphocytes but does not suppress the early membrane and intracellular events that are associated with binding of antigens to specific receptors. The studies reported here were designed to determine whether alcohol inhibits immunoglobulin synthesis. When 150 mg/dl ethanol was added to anti-mu-stimulated purified B cells, proliferation was inhibited. Similar exposure to ethanol inhibited production of messenger RNA for kappa chain in anti-mu-stimulated B cells but did not affect total RNA production or messenger RNA for beta-actin. Thus alcohol inhibits both the proliferation of antigen-activated B lymphocytes and their synthesis of immunoglobulin.
Aldo-Benson
M
M
Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202.
Kluve-Beckerman
B
B
Hardwick
J
J
Lockwood
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001345:Autoradiography; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D000906:Antibodies; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000431:Ethanol