title: Exposure-dependent effects of ethanol on the innate immune system.
abstract: Extensive evidence indicates that ethanol (alcohol) has immunomodulatory properties. Many of its effects on innate immune response are dose dependent, with acute or moderate use associated with attenuated inflammatory responses, and heavy ethanol consumption linked with augmentation of inflammation. Ethanol may modify innate immunity via functional alterations of the cells of the innate immune system. Mounting evidence indicates that ethanol can diversely affect antigen recognition and intracellular signaling events, which include activation of mitogen activated protein kinases, and NFkappaB, mediated by Toll-like receptors, leading to altered inflammatory responses. The mechanism(s) underlying these changes may involve dose-dependent effects of ethanol on the fluidity of cell membrane, resulting in interference with the timely assembly or disassembly of lipid rafts. Ethanol could also modify cell activation by specific interactions with cell membrane molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goral
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karavitis
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D000431:Ethanol