title: [Cultured lymphocytes in chronic alcoholics].
abstract: Lymphocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood of 80 chronic alcoholics without an evident liver damage and filled up with 4 different mitogens. The DNA synthesis was investigated by means of the 3H thymidine incorporation rate. They were referred to a group of 15 healthy test persons. An increased proliferation rate of B-lymphocytes could be demonstrated, whereas there was no evidence for a change in the stimulatibility of T-lymphocytes. It was only the direct impact of ethyl alcohol on lymphocytes that produced a significant decrease in the ability of T-cell reactivity, whereas a further increase of stimulatibility could be observed in B-cells. Our findings allow the conclusion to be drawn that an immediate toxic impact of ethanol on lymphocytes can be identified in chronic alcoholics without manifest liver damage.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens
vernacular_title: Lymphozytenkulturen bei chronischen Alkoholikern.