Alcohol's contribution to compromised immunity.

Epigenetic Targets for Reversing Immune Defects Caused by Alcohol Exposure

Alcohol consumption alters factors that modify gene expression without changing the DNA code (i.e., epigenetic modulators) in many organ systems, including the immune system. Alcohol enhances the risk for developing several serious medical conditions related to immune system dysfunction, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), liver cancer, and alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Binge...

Alcohol's contribution to cancer is underestimated for exactly the same reason that its contribution to cardioprotection is overestimated.

Focus On: Alcohol and the Immune System

Alcohol abuse suppresses multiple arms of the immune response, leading to an increased risk of infections. The course and resolution of both bacterial and viral infections is severely impaired in alcohol-abusing patients, resulting in greater patient morbidity and mortality. Multiple mechanisms have been identified underlying the immunosuppressive effects of alcohol. These mechanisms involve st...

THE ROLE OF B-CELLS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNITY TO CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION

Studies have shown that symptomatic improvement of cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised patients is possible following treatment with" hyperimmune" colostrum containing anti-sporozoite antibodies from cattle immunized with Cryptosporidium parvum antigens. The contribution to immunity of antibodies developed during Cryptosporidium infection is unclear, however. Previously, we showed that ...

Role of acetaldehyde in mediating the pharmacological and behavioral effects of alcohol.

Acetaldehyde is the first active breakdown product (i.e., metabolite) generated during alcohol metabolism. It has toxic properties but also exerts other actions on the body (i.e., has pharmacological properties). Recent studies have shown that the direct administration of acetaldehyde, especially into the brain, induces several effects that mimic those of alcohol. High doses of acetaldehyde ind...