title: Effect of ethanol on natural killer cell activity in vitro.
abstract: The effect of ethanol on kinetic stages of natural killer (NK) cell activity was studied in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were either co-cultured or pre-incubated with various ethanol concentrations and assayed for NK cell activity with a "4-hour chromium release assay" and a "single cell cytotoxicity assay in agarose" simultaneously. Direct addition of ethanol to the assay system resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of NK cell activity. The percentage of lysed conjugated target cells was suppressed from a control value of 21.2% to 17.0%, 15.1%, 11.8% and 10.0% with an ethanol concentration of 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1.0%, respectively. NK cell recycling was also inhibited. A 24-hour pre-incubation with ethanol, however, resulted in NK cell activity enhancement. The enhancement was around 20% with a 0.25% ethanol concentration and around 45% with a 0.5% and a 1.0% ethanol concentrations. The enhancing effect was noted mainly at the cytolysis stage after binding of effector cell with target cells.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol