title: Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with changes in the distribution, immunophenotype, and the inflammatory cytokine secretion profile of circulating dendritic cells.
abstract: 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.
authors: Unidad de Alcoholismo, Servicio de Medicina Interna II, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain. laso@usal.es
authors: Francisco Javier
authors: FJ
authors: Laso
authors: José Miguel
authors: JM
authors: Vaquero
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Almeida
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Marcos
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Orfao
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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