Effects of ethanol on human monocyte/macrophage lysozyme storage and release. Implications for the pathobiology of alcoholic liver disease.
The effect of ethanol on the release and/or intracellular accumulation of lysozyme (LZM) by human monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (mø) was investigated in vitro. A reverse haemolytic plaque assay, to detect and quantify LZM release by individual cells was combined with quantitative immunocytochemistry using LZM and the pan-macrophage monoclonal EBM/11 as markers. Ethanol had no effect on monocytes; however it reduced secretion of LZM by a mø subpopulation. Ethanol also reduced both the total number of mø immunoreactive for LZM, (but not EBM/11), and the proportion of LZM-secreting mø containing detectable LZM. The latter was correlated with an increase in the proportion of LZM-secreting mø that were not immunoreactive for this enzyme. These data suggest functional heterogeneity amongst human macrophages with a mø subpopulation which responds to ethanol exposure with a drop in both content and release of LZM. This might have implications for macrophage function in alcoholic liver disease.
Nuffield Department of Pathology and Bacteriology, University of Oxford, U.K.
S P
SP
McCarthy
C E
CE
Lewis
J O
JO
McGee
D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism*
D000431:Ethanol; D009113:Muramidase