Cytokines and Alcohol

Abstract

Cytokines are multifunctional proteins that play a critical role in cellular communication and activation. Cytokines have been classified as being proinflammatory (T helper 1, Th1) or anti-inflammatory (T helper 2, Th2) depending on their effects on the immune system. However, cytokines impact a variety of tissues in a complex manner that regulates inflammation, cell death, and cell proliferation and migration as well as healing mechanisms. Ethanol (alcohol) is known to alter cytokine levels in a variety of tissues including plasma, lung, liver, and brain. Studies on human monocyte responses to pathogens reveal ethanol disruption of cytokine production depending upon the pathogen and duration of alcohol consumption, with multiple pathogens and chronic ethanol promoting inflammatory cytokine production. In lung, cytokine production is disrupted by ethanol exacerbating respiratory distress syndrome with greatly increased expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta). Alcoholic liver disease involves an inflammatory hepatitis and an exaggerated Th1 response with increases in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). Recent studies suggest that the transition from Th1 to Th2 cytokines contribute to hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Cytokines affect the brain and likely contribute to changes in the central nervous system that contribute to long-term changes in behavior and neurodegeneration. Together these studies suggest that ethanol disruption of cytokines and inflammation contribute in multiple ways to a diversity of alcoholic pathologies.

Psychoneuroimmunology of Early-Life Stress: The Hidden Wounds of Childhood Trauma?

“…In turn, obesity is associated with high systemic inflammation through the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by adipocytes (Gregor and Hotamisligil, 2011). Fourth, early-life stress has been linked to alcohol and substance abuse disorders and smoking (Dube et al, 2003;Anda et al, 1999), which can increase inflammation levels (Crews et al, 2006;Shiels et al, 2014). Fifth, early-life stress has been associated with decreased total sleep and disruption in sleep architecture in rodents (Feng et al, 2007;Mrdalj et al, 2013;Tiba et al, 2004) and humans (Gregory and Sadeh, 2016;Kajeepeta et al, 2015).…”

Efficacy of Tumor Necrosis Factor and Interleukin-10 Analysis in the Follow-up of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Progression

“…The main proinflammatory Th1 cytokines are TNF-a, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and interferon; whereas the main Th2 anti-inflammatory cytokines are IL-4 and IL-10. In general, Th1 cytokines inhibit Th2 cytokine production and vice versa [12]. Thus, normally there is a balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines [13,14].…”

Protective Role of Crude Extract of Amorphophallus Campanulatus Against Ethanol-Induced Oxidative Renal Damage

“…Ethanol-induced damage is associated with oxidative stress and immunological alterations [34]. It alters the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines which play a critical role in cellular communication, activation, inflammation, cell death, and cell proliferation [35]. There exists a strict relationship between TNF-α and IL-6, which activates the innate and adaptive immune responses [36][37][38].…”