title: Modulation of perforin, granzyme A, and granzyme B in murine natural killer (NK), IL2 stimulated NK, and lymphokine-activated killer cells by alcohol consumption.
abstract: Alcohol consumption in mice suppresses the cytolytic activity of natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells through unknown mechanisms. Herein, we found that alcohol consumption decreased target cell-induced release of granzyme A activity in freshly isolated splenic NK cells, in NK cells stimulated for 18 h with 1000 IU/ml of interleukin 2, and in LAK cells. The total activity and protein expression of granzymes A and B also were lower in these cells than in cells isolated from water-drinking mice. Interleukin 2 increased granzyme A protein expression independent of alcohol consumption; however, this increase was associated with decreased enzyme activity. In contrast, granzyme B protein expression and enzymatic activity increased in response to interleukin 2. Perforin activity and protein expression were reduced in LAK cells generated from alcohol-consuming mice. We conclude that the mechanism underlying the suppression of NK and LAK cytolytic activity by alcohol consumption involves the collective reduction of target-induced release, activity, and expression of perforin and granular proteases.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention and Research Center, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6510, USA.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Meadows
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D053804:Granzymes; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009752:Nutritional Status; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D054353:Perforin; D000431:Ethanol; D053804:Granzymes; C509214:Gzmb protein, mouse; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases