Altered Distribution of Peripheral Blood Maturation-Associated B-Cell Subsets in Chronic Alcoholism

Abstract

AH and AWLD patients display a significantly reduced PB B-cell count, at the expense of decreased numbers of recently produced immature/regulatory B cells and naïve B cells, together with an increase in Ig-switched memory B lymphocytes and plasmablasts, particularly of IgA(+) cells.

The Role of B Cells in Adult and Paediatric Liver Injury

“…Alcohol related liver disease (ArLD) is associated with excessive consumption of alcohol causing hepatocyte damage and major shifts in metabolism leading to the retention of fat known as steatosis ( 86 , 103 , 104 ). Cessation of alcohol consumption at the point of early fibrosis and steatosis can reverse ArLD ( 105 , 106 ).…”

“…ArLD patients have an altered B cell compartment; significant reductions in immature, memory and naïve B cells were reported in these patients, whilst the percentage of PBs were elevated ( 103 ). This increase in PBs may be responsible for high levels of IgA, IgG and IgM in ArLD.…”

“…This increase in PBs may be responsible for high levels of IgA, IgG and IgM in ArLD. It can be hypothesised that a decline in regulatory B cells promotes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines contributing to the exacerbation of inflammation, further activating immune cells and reducing the inhibitory function of regulatory B cell types ( 103 , 108 ).…”

“…Females with ArLD also present with elevated titres of circulating immunoglobulins and a variety of autoreactive antibodies ( 109 ). Steatohepatitis patients with more advanced disease have reduced numbers of sIgM+, soluble IgG+ (sIgG+) and soluble IgA+ (sIgA+)-reduced memory B cell numbers and increased sIgA+ class-switched memory B cells when compared to healthy controls ( 103 , 108 ). In addition, alcoholic patients that show no sign of liver disease have a significant expansion of peripheral blood PBs and elevated sIgA+ memory cells ( 103 ).…”

“…Exposure to alcohol induces immune dysfunction and studies in human and animal models of ArLD show a decrease in B cell numbers ( 103 , 107 , 108 ). An impairment of B cell egress from the spleen to the blood, may account for the reduction in peripheral B cells ( 103 ).…”