Title
Inhibition of superantigen-induced T cell proliferation and monocyte IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 production by acute ethanol treatment
PubMed ID
7665990
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Surgery; Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Division
Date
9-1-1995
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Adult; Ethanol; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Interleukin-1; Interleukin-6; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes; Superantigens; T-Lymphocytes; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
Alcohol use has been shown to decrease monocyte antigen presentation capacity and inflammatory cytokine production, thereby increasing susceptibility to infections. Here, we demonstrate that in vitro acute treatment of normal monocytes with pharmacological doses of ethanol can decrease superantigen [Staphylococcus enterotoxins B (SEB) and A (SEA)]-induced T cell proliferation. Furthermore, ethanol treatment (25-100 mM) significantly inhibited SEA- or SEB-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and IL-6 in monocytes. Ethanol-induced down-regulation of monocyte TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 occurred at both the protein and mRNA levels. Additional data suggest that ethanol can decrease IL-1 beta mRNA stability. Furthermore, experiments using cycloheximide indicate that de novo protein synthesis is required for the inhibitory effect of ethanol on SEB-induced IL-1 beta mRNA production. Finally, ethanol treatment decreased HLA-DR expression in monocytes, suggesting that ethanol treatment can compromise monocyte stimulation by down-regulating the SEB-binding capacity of monocytes. These results suggest that acute ethanol treatment can interfere with monocyte activation by SEB at multiple steps. Consequently, decreased superantigen-induced polyclonal T cell activation and inflammatory monokine production would contribute to an impaired immune response to bacterial challenge with superantigens after acute alcohol intake.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: J Leukoc Biol. 1995 Sep;58(3):342-50.