title: Aliphatic alcohols of illegally produced spirits can act synergistically on superoxide-anion production by human granulocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aliphatic alcohols present in illegally produced spirits in a large number of low and middle income countries have been implicated in the etiology of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Previous studies have confirmed that chronic alcoholism can lead to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Reduced superoxide-anion (O(2)·(-)) production by granulocytes could provide a mechanism by which antimicrobial defense is impaired in alcoholics. In vitro experiments have also demonstrated that ethanol can inhibit granulocyte O(2)·(-) generation. Aliphatic alcohols consumed as contaminants of illicit spirits may also influence O(2)·(-) production thereby contributing to a decrease in microbicidal activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate this possibility. It measured the O(2)·(-) production by human granulocytes following treatment of the cells with aliphatic alcohol contaminants found in illicit spirits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Granulocytes were isolated from human buffy coats with centrifugal elutriation and then treated with individual aliphatic alcohols and their mixture. The O(2)·(-) production was stimulated with phorbol-12-13-dibutyrate and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and measured by superoxide dismutase inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aliphatic alcohols of illegally produced spirits inhibited the FMLP-induced O(2)·(-) production in a concentration dependent manner. They suppressed O(2)·(-) generation at 2.5-40 times lower concentrations when combined than when tested individually.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aliphatic alcohols found in illegally produced spirits can inhibit FMLP-induced O(2)·(-) production by granulocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. Due to their synergistic effects, it is possible that, in combination with ethanol, they may inhibit O(2)·(-) formation in heavy episodic drinkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical and Health Science Centre, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ervin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Arnyas
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pál
authors.forename: Csilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Róza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adány
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szűcs
mesh_terms: D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D013481:Superoxides; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine