Diminished CD4+ T cell surface CCR5 expression in alcoholic patients.
OBJECTIVE
The C-C chemokine receptors, particularly the CCR5, appeared to play an important role in T cell-mediated inflammatory reactions. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of chronic alcohol consumption on the in vivo CCR5 expression.


METHODS
Fourteen alcoholic men hospitalized for a detoxification programme were prospectively included and compared with 49 age-matched controls.


RESULTS
The CD4(+) T cell surface CCR5 densities were drastically lower in alcoholic patients [mean, 5319 molecules/cell; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4477-6162] as compared with CCR5 densities of the controls (10 944 molecules/cell [CI 9929-11959]; P < 10(-4)).


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with a significant decrease of CCR5 expression, which could favour Th1/Th2 imbalance.
Perney
Pascal
P
Service de Médecine Interne E, Hôpital Saint Eloi, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France. p-perney@chu-montpellier.fr
Portalès
Pierre
P
Clot
Jacques
J
Blanc
François
F
Corbeau
Pierre
P
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D019713:Receptors, CCR5