The effects of ethanol on beta2-integrin and l-selectin on the surface of leukocytes in human whole blood.
BACKGROUND
Acute alcohol intoxication is associated with increased susceptibility to infection. In host defense, the expression of adhesion molecules such as beta2-integrin and l-selectin on leukocytes is involved in leukocyte migration to inflamed organ tissue. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the immunosuppressive effects of ethanol, we investigated whether ethanol pretreatment may influence the changes in adhesion molecule expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin (IL)-8 in human whole blood.


METHODS
Ethanol was added to samples of human whole blood (final concentration: 0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8%). Samples were assigned to an unstimulated group and an LPS-stimulated group. In another set of experiments, stimulation was induced by IL-8. After fluorescence labeling of alphaM-subunit of beta2-integrin (CD11b) and l-selectin (CD62L), the expression of CD11b and CD62L were measured using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Stimulation with LPS significantly upregulated CD11b expression (5.9 +/- 0.9 to 16.3 +/- 1.8, p < 0.05). Ethanol inhibited this LPS-induced upregulation of CD11b (p < 0.001). Stimulation with IL-8 significantly upregulated CD11b expression (5.3 +/- 1.7 to 7.5 +/- 2.7, p < 0.01) and this IL-8-induced upregulation of CD11b was also inhibited by ethanol pretreatment (p < 0.001). In contrast, ethanol did not modify CD62L expression in either unstimulated or stimulated groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The impairment of CD11b expression on leukocytes suggests that alcohol intake interferes with the migration of leukocytes to sites of inflammation, which may explain, in part, why alcohol intoxication increases susceptibility to infection.
Ozaki
Masayuki
M
Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Ogata
Masanori
M
Nandate
Koichiroh
K
Kawasaki
Takashi
T
Sata
Takeyoshi
T
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016209:Interleukin-8; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019041:L-Selectin; D000431:Ethanol