Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with changes in the distribution, immunophenotype, and the inflammatory cytokine secretion profile of circulating dendritic cells.
BACKGROUND
Alcoholism is frequently associated with altered immune responses, limited information being available on its effects on dendritic cells (DC). In the present study we analyze the effects of chronic alcoholism on circulating DC.


METHODS
For the first time we studied the numerical distribution of DC in peripheral blood (PB), their immunophenotype, and their ex vivo pattern of spontaneous cytokine secretion, in chronic alcoholic patients without liver disease (AWLD group; n=17) and active ethanol (EtOH) intake, as well as in subjects with alcohol liver cirrhosis (ALC group; n=21).


RESULTS
A significantly decreased HLADR expression and an increased reactivity for CD123 was observed on PB DC from AWLD patients; additionally, increased secretion of interleukin (IL) 1beta, IL6, IL12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) by DC was also noted in this group. Conversely, patients with ALC and at least 1 year of alcohol withdrawal (ALCAW group) showed a decreased number of total circulating DC, whereas ALC patients with active EtOH intake (ALCET group) had an abnormally low production of IL1beta and TNFalpha by PB DC.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic alcoholism in the absence of liver disease is associated with an increased secretion of inflammatory cytokines by PB DC, whereas ALCAW and ALCET patients show decreased numbers of circulating DC and reduced secretion of these cytokines, respectively.
Laso
Francisco Javier
FJ
Unidad de Alcoholismo, Servicio de Medicina Interna II, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain. laso@usal.es
Vaquero
José Miguel
JM
Almeida
Julia
J
Marcos
Miguel
M
Orfao
Alberto
A
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053650:Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; C571163:CD33 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D053650:Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3