Increased intracellular calcium level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of alcoholic patients under withdrawal.
Cytosolic free Ca2+ functions as a main regulator of numerous cellular processes, including those implicated in synthesis, release and responsiveness of hormones and neurotransmitters are discussed. To examine whether a change in the intracellular free calcium ion concentration [Ca2+]i occurs associated with delirium tremens and related states we compared [Ca2+]i in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of alcoholic patients under withdrawal with that of non-alcoholic patients and of healthy controls. [Ca2+]i in PBMC of alcoholic patients was significantly higher (P < 0.001) compared to both control groups, suggesting that changes in [Ca2+]i may be relevant to increased excitability of the central nervous system. Increased [Ca2+]i in PBMC might be diagnostically valuable as a biological marker of alcohol dependency.
National Institute for Alcohology, Hüvösvölgyi, Budapest, Hungary.
J
J
Nagy
E
E
Környey
A
A
Orosz
D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000097:blood*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D002118:Calcium