title: Ethanol-induced suppression of interleukin 1-like activity: reversal by a quinone derivative.
abstract: Chronic ethanol intake impairs several parameters of immune function. Since there is evidence that cytokine production by immune cells may contribute to the immunosuppressive effect of ethanol, we examined interleukin 1 (IL1) production by liver non-parenchymal cells (NPC) in ethanol-fed rats. Male Wistar rats (225-250 g) were fed by continuous intragastric infusion. The source of fat was either saturated fat or polyunsaturated fat. In addition, the effect of a quinone compound on IL1 production was assessed. Animals were fed for various periods: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 2 months. NPC were isolated and stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. IL1 production by NPC and the ratio of stimulated to unstimulated (S:U) IL1 production were evaluated in the different groups and related to the presence of liver injury. As expected, animals fed corn oil and ethanol (CO+E) developed pathologic liver injury, whereas animals fed saturated fat and ethanol (SF+E) had no liver injury. A progressive decrease in the S:U IL1 ratio was seen in the CO+E group over the 8-week period. The ratio in the SF+E group was higher. The quinone compound reversed the suppressive effect of ethanol on IL1 production. In summary, ethanol-induced suppression of IL1 production was modulated by diet and the presence of liver injury. This suppression of IL1 production was reversed by a quinone compound; the exact mechanism for the reversal of this inhibition is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nanji
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sadrzadeh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011422:Propionates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016227:Benzoquinones; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011422:Propionates; C075569:E 3330; D000431:Ethanol