Exposure-dependent effects of ethanol on the innate immune system

Goral, Joanna; Karavitis, John; Kovacs, Elizabeth J.

doi:10.1016/j.alcohol.2008.02.003

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Volume 42, Issue 4 , Pages 237-247, June 2008

Exposure-dependent effects of ethanol on the innate immune system

Joanna Goral
- Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, USA
- Burn and Shock Trauma Institute, Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
John Karavitis
- Burn and Shock Trauma Institute, Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
- Alcohol Research Program, Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
Elizabeth J. Kovacs
- Burn and Shock Trauma Institute, Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
- Alcohol Research Program, Loyola University Chicago Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
- Corresponding author. Loyola University Medical Center, Departments of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy and Surgery, 2160 South First Avenue, Building 110, Room 4237, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. Tel.: +1-708-327-2477; fax: +1-708-327-2813.

Received 2 November 2007; received in revised form 22 February 2008; accepted 22 February 2008. published online 15 April 2008.

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 NFκB, 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.

Keywords: Alcohol, Macrophage, Acute alcohol, Chronic alcohol, Phagocytosis, Cytokine, MAPK, TLR, NFκB, Lipid rafts, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1