title: Cerebrospinal fluid monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in alcoholics: support for a neuroinflammatory model of chronic alcoholism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liver inflammation in alcoholism has been hypothesized to influence the development of a neuroinflammatory process in the brain characterized by neurodegeneration and altered cognitive function. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (MCP-1/CCL2) elevations have been noted in the alcoholic brain at autopsy and may have a role in this process.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of MCP-1 as well as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in 13 healthy volunteers and 28 alcoholics during weeks 1 and 4 following detoxification. Serum liver enzymes were obtained as markers of alcohol-related liver inflammation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to healthy volunteers, MCP-1 levels were significantly higher in alcoholics both on day 4 and day 25 (p < 0.0001). Using multiple regression analysis, we found that MCP-1 concentrations were positively associated with the liver enzymes gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT; p = 0.03) and aspartate aminotransferase/glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST/GOT; p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary findings are consistent with the hypothesis that neuroinflammation as indexed by CSF MCP-1 is associated with alcohol-induced liver inflammation, as defined by peripheral concentrations of GGT and AST/GOT.
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Umhau
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwandt
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Peixiong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nugent
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Wayne C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Drevets
authors.forename: Samuel D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heilig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Alcoholism; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Cytokine; Inflammation; Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1