Summary of the 2016 Alcohol and Immunology Research Interest Group (AIRIG) meeting

Abstract

On November 18, 2016 the 21st annual Alcohol and Immunology Research Interest Group (AIRIG) meeting was held at the Center for Translational Research and Education at Loyola University Chicago's Health Sciences Campus in Maywood, IL. The 2016 meeting focused broadly on alcohol and inflammation, epigenetics, and the microbiome. The four plenary sessions of the meeting were Alcohol, Inflammation, and Immunity; Alcohol and Epigenetics; Alcohol, Transcriptional Regulation, and Epigenetics; and Alcohol, Intestinal Mucosa, and the Gut Microbiome. Presentations in all sessions of the meeting explored putative underlying causes for chronic diseases and mortality associated with alcohol consumption, shedding light on future work and potential therapeutic targets to alleviate the negative effects of alcohol misuse.

The possible protective role of zingerone on ethanol induced entrotoxicity of jejunum in adult albino rats: Light and scanning electron microscopic study

“…In the present research, distorted villi with enlarged goblet cells, distorted intestinal crypts, dilated, and congested blood vessels with areas of hemorrhage were reported, and these findings were in agree with Boule et al [ 16 ] who reported that alcohol/septic mice had increased apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, decreased crypt proliferation, decreased the villous length and persistent inflammatory environment with vascular congestion and also contributed in disruption of the intestinal tight junctions and increasing their permeability.…”

Infected chylothorax: a case report and review

“…There were 11 patients total: six males and five females; age range 5 days-78 years, mean age 40.5 years (standard deviation 28.5 years). One patient was pharmacologically immunosuppressed while others had chronic diseases known to reduce immune system function including diabetes, excessive alcohol intake, and obesity (24)(25)(26). Four (36%) were iatrogenic.…”

Trichostatin A Shows Transient Protection from Chronic Alcohol-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Production in Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

“…Alcohol has been known to upregulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production thereby causing increased oxidative stress leading to the development of diseases [1]. Recently, it has been discussed that alcoholics have a heightened pro-inflammatory response due to the alteration of the activity of innate immune cells [2]. This deviation results in an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels; as well as, a decrease resistance against colonization leading to alterations in organ microbiomes [2–4].…”

“…Recently, it has been discussed that alcoholics have a heightened pro-inflammatory response due to the alteration of the activity of innate immune cells [2]. This deviation results in an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels; as well as, a decrease resistance against colonization leading to alterations in organ microbiomes [2–4]. Therefore, approaches to reduce the inflammatory effects of alcohol are of interest to the alcohol research field.…”