Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated calcium signal in lymphocytes of alcoholics before, during and after detoxification.
Acute and chronic exposure to ethanol influences intracellular calcium homeostasis via NMDA receptors, direct regulation of calcium channels or the phosphoinositide pathway. To explore the influence of alcohol withdrawal on calcium metabolism, we have investigated the resting and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated [Ca2+]i in lymphocytes of 10 alcoholics before, during and after withdrawal. Our findings suggest that both compartments of the PHA-stimulated signal are affected in alcoholics, with flattening of the initial peak and sustained calcium influx, as long as severe vegetative signs are present. MANOVA results showed significant interaction effects for both measurement points, for the initial peak, 40 s after stimulation (P = 0.05), and especially for the sustained influx at the end of the observation period (P = 0.001). The detailed mechanisms of this disturbed calcium homeostasis need further investigation.
Bondy
B
B
Psychiatric Clinic, University of Munich, München, Germany. bb@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
Engel
R R
RR
de Jonge
S
S
Schütz
C G
CG
Soyka
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000276:immunology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000276:immunology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology*
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D002118:Calcium