Effects of alcohol consumption on the allergen-specific immune response in mice.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence that chronic alcohol consumption impairs the T-helper 1 (Th1) lymphocyte-regulated cell-mediated immune response possibly favoring a Th2 deviation of the immune response. Moreover, a few epidemiological studies have linked alcohol consumption to allergen-specific IgE sensitization.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of alcohol consumption on the allergen-specific immune response in mice.


METHODS
BALB/cJBomTac mice were immunized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OVA) using a low dose sensitization protocol. Throughout the experiment, mice were kept on isocalorical liquid diets containing 0 to 6.2% ethanol. Evaluation of immunomodulatory effects of ethanol was based on measurements of total serum IgE, as well as OVA-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a. Furthermore, levels of OVA-induced interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon-gamma were determined in ex vivo splenocyte cultures.


RESULTS
Alcohol intake decreased the level of OVA-specific IgG2a in a dose-dependent manner, whereas high levels of alcohol markedly increased the level of total IgE, but not OVA-specific IgE. Th1 suppression was supported by the cytokine profile.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol consumption induced a marked decrease in markers of the Th1-type allergen-specific immune response and an increase in total serum IgE. In this model, there was no effect of alcohol on OVA-specific IgE. Studies using other routes of immunization may be warranted.
Linneberg
Allan
A
Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark. alli@glo.regionh.dk
Roursgaard
Martin
M
Hersoug
Lars-Georg
LG
Larsen
Søren Thor
ST
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D000431:Ethanol