Alcohol consumption suppresses metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma in mice.
Female C57BL/6 mice were fed a defined, pelleted diet and given 10% w/v or 20% w/v ethanol in their drinking water. Natural killer (NK) cell cytolytic activity was compared between water-drinking and ethanol-consuming mice and in mice that were also treated with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) to augment NK cell activity or with anti-NK1.1 antibody to decrease activity. NK cell cytolytic activity was not altered in mice given 10% ethanol, but was decreased in mice given 20% ethanol compared to water-drinking mice. Poly I:C treatment increased and anti-NK1.1 antibody treatment decreased NK cell activity in both water-drinking and 20% ethanol-consuming mice. Experimental and spontaneous metastases of B16-BL6 melanoma were evaluated as a function of the duration of ethanol consumption before tumor inoculation and as a function of altered NK cell activity. Experimental metastasis was inhibited after 4 and also after 6.5 weeks of ethanol exposure. Poly I:C treatment inhibited tumor lung colonization irrespective of ethanol consumption. Anti-NK1.1 antibody treatment increased metastasis, although to a lesser degree in mice consuming 10% ethanol. Spontaneous metastasis was inhibited in mice consuming 10% ethanol for 4 weeks, and in mice consuming 20% ethanol for 1 and 4 weeks before melanoma inoculation.
Meadows
G G
GG
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6510.
Elstad
C A
CA
Blank
S E
SE
Gallucci
R M
RM
Pfister
L J
LJ
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology
D000431:Ethanol; D011070:Poly I-C