Ethanol-induced changes in the intestinal mucosa-associated immune system of young and mature mice.
Alcoholics have frequent bronchial and intestinal bacterial-associated infections compromising the mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues. Alcoholics also suffer undernutrition due to changes in their lifestyles. Thus, we studied the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues using two types of diets in young and mature mice. The objective was to elucidate if ethanol consumption alters the T and B cell populations in the intestine, and if the alteration could be associated with the age and/or the nutritional status of the host. There was an increase in the number of CD8+ cells per field in the intestinal lamina propria (ILP) of young mice consuming ethanol, with no change in CD4+ and IgA+ cells in the ILP and CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the intestinal intraepithelium (IE). There was also an increase in the number of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the ILP of well-nourished mature mice consuming ethanol, and an increase in the number of CD4+ cells in the ILP of undernourished mice. An increase in the number of CD8+ cells in the IE was also detected in the well-nourished group consuming ethanol. Therefore, we conclude that ethanol administration alters the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.
Lopez
M C
MC
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724.
Watzl
B
B
Hebert
A R
AR
Murphy
L
L
Huang
D S
DS
Watson
R R
RR
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D000431:Ethanol