Chromosomal Aberrations in the Lymphocytes of Alcoholics and Former Alcoholics

Abstract

An elevation of chromosomal aberrations has been found in the lymphocytes of alcoholics compared with those of nonalcoholics. In this study, structural aberrations of chromosomes in peripheral lymphocytes of alcoholics and former alcoholics were examined in order to study the chromosome-breaking activity of alcohol and effects of long-term sobriety on chromosomal aberrations in alcoholics. We have presumed initially that chromosomal aberrations in alcoholics would remain for a long time after abstinence from alcohol. Nevertheless we found a spontaneous reduction of the chromosomal aberrations in former alcoholics who had been dry for periods of 2 years or more. These observations suggest that chromosomal aberrations appearing in alcoholics probably formed by a chronic activity of alcohol and/or its metabolic products and cellular repair mechanisms may recover within a few years of abstinence.

De novo malignancies after liver transplantation: A major cause of late death

“…Although there are many reports of PTLD in LT populations, there are no reports of increased mortality caused by PTLD in liver transplant recipients with ALD. Ethanol has been reported to increase karotypic chromosomal aberrations 51,52 ; expression of TGF-␤ in a variety of cells, including macrophages 53 and liver cells 54 ; and suppression of immunity toward cancer and infections in experimental models. 55,56 This potential enhancement of cancer susceptibility in patients with ALD who underwent LT was also noted in other de novo cancers, with rates of oropharyngeal and lung cancers 25.5 and 3.7 times greater in the ALD group compared with the general population matched for age, sex, and length of follow-up using SEER data, respectively.…”

Biomarcadores moleculares em câncer: implicações para a pesquisa epidemiológica e a saúde pública

“…O consumo crônico de bebidas alcoólicas tem sido relacionado a diferentes tipos de câncer ( Jensen et al, 1996) e com o aumento, estatisticamente significante, na freqüência de linfócitos com aberrações cromossômicas numéricas e estruturais (Obe & Anderson, 1987). Isso ocorre mesmo após longos períodos de abstinência sugerindo uma ação do álcool na capacidade de reparo celular e nas funções oxidativas da célula (Gattás & Saldanha, 1997;Matsushima, 1987). Os efeitos mutagênicos resultantes do uso de tabaco apresentam resultados contraditórios.…”