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Moderate Alcohol Intake (moderate + alcohol_intake)
Selected AbstractsModerate Alcohol Intake in Humans Attenuates Monocyte Inflammatory Responses: Inhibition of Nuclear Regulatory Factor Kappa B and Induction of Interleukin 10ALCOHOLISM, Issue 1 2006Pranoti Mandrekar Background: In contrast to the deleterious effects of chronic excessive alcohol consumption on the liver and cardiovascular system, modest alcohol intake, such as 1 to 2 drinks per day, has benefits on cardiovascular mortality. Little is known about the length of time or the amounts of alcohol consumed that may cause alterations in inflammatory cells such as monocytes that are crucial to atherosclerotic vascular disease. Here, we determine in vivo effects of acute alcohol consumption on inflammatory cytokine production and nuclear regulatory factor ,B (NF- ,B) binding in human monocytes. Methods: Human blood monocytes were isolated by plastic adherence before and after acute alcohol consumption (2 ml vodka/kg body weight). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and superantigen-induced tumor necrosis factor , (TNF ,), interleukin (IL)-1,, and IL-10 production were then determined in monocytes by ELISA. Nuclear regulatory factor- ,B activity of monocytes before and after alcohol consumption was estimated by electromobility shift assay and promoter-driven reporter activity. I,B, was determined by Western blotting in the cytoplasmic extracts. Results: Eighteen hours after moderate alcohol consumption, we found a significant reduction in monocyte production of inflammatory mediators, TNF- , and IL-1,, in response to LPS or staphylococcal enterotoxin B stimulation. Acute alcohol consumption inhibited LPS-induced DNA binding of the p65/p50 NF- ,B in monocytes that regulates the expression of both the TNF- , and the IL-1, genes. Consistent with this, acute alcohol treatment (25 mM) significantly reduced LPS-induced activation of an NF- ,B-driven reporter gene suggesting inhibition of this proinflammatory signaling pathway. Further, LPS-induced I,B, degradation was not affected by acute alcohol consumption indicating an I,B, -independent mechanism, as observed earlier in the in vitro acute alcohol studies. In contrast, monocyte production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, was augmented by acute alcohol intake. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that acute alcohol consumption has dual anti-inflammatory effects that involve augmentation of IL-10 and attenuation of monocyte inflammatory responses involving inhibition of NF- ,B. These mechanisms may contribute to the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol use on atherosclerosis. [source] Alcohol-Induced Endothelial Changes Are Associated With Oxidative Stress and Are Rapidly Reversed After WithdrawalALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2005Giorgio Soardo Abstract: Background: Although heavy alcohol drinkers are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular events, moderate alcohol intake is associated with reduced incidence of cardiovascular death. This paradox might reflect a dose-related effect of different alcohol intakes on endothelial function and this, in turn, might depend on changes in oxidative stress Methods: We tested the effects of alcohol withdrawal in heavy alcohol consumers and compared the plasma levels of endothelin-1, nitric oxide, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, von Willebrand factor, malondialdehyde, and intracellular glutathione with those of alcoholics that did not modify their alcohol intake and teetotalers. In human endothelial cells that had been cultured for 2 weeks in the presence of different concentrations of ethanol, we assessed the same parameters after withdrawal of ethanol exposure Results: Alcohol increased the levels of endothelin-1, nitric oxide, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and decreased the levels of von Willebrand factor both in vivo and in vitro. These changes were dose dependent, rapidly reversed after withdrawal of exposure, and associated with the presence of increased oxidative stress as indicated by increased levels of both malondialdehyde and intracellular glutathione. Blockade of oxidative stress by incubation of endothelial cells in the presence of oxidants' scavengers prevented the alcohol-induced functional modifications of the endothelium Conclusions: Alcohol affects endothelial function with an effect that is mediated by an activated oxidative stress and is rapidly reversed after withdrawal. Dose-related endothelial responses to different alcohol intakes might translate in either vascular protection or vascular damage. [source] Moderate alcohol intake increases fibrosis progression in untreated patients with hepatitis C virus infectionJOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 3 2002J. Westin Although excessive alcohol consumption in combination with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is known to increase the risk of liver cirrhosis, the effect of moderate alcohol intake remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on fibrosis progression in HCV infection. A group of 78 patients with HCV infection and moderate alcohol consumption were analysed retrospectively. All patients had undergone two liver biopsies, with a median time between biopsies of 6.3 years, and had not received any antiviral therapy. Their lifetime drinking history was recorded. All patients except one had daily alcohol consumption below 40 g of ethanol (median 4.8 g/day, interquartile range 1.1,11.6 g/day) during the period between the biopsies. The patients whose liver fibrosis had deteriorated had a higher total alcohol consumption and higher drinking frequency between the biopsies. The degree of fibrosis progression was greater in patients with a total alcohol intake and drinking frequency above the median level for the group. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that drinking frequency and time between biopsies were independently associated with fibrosis progression. Hence, even moderate alcohol intake seems to increase fibrosis progression in HCV-infected patients. From that point of view, total abstention ought to be recommended. If this is not achieved, occasional use of alcohol is probably less harmful than daily drinking for patients with low or moderate alcohol consumption. [source] High-density Lipoproteins: Effects of Alcohol, Estrogen, and PhytoestrogensNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 1 2002Stefania Lamon-Fava MD Plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDL) play an important role in the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. Factors affecting plasma HDL levels may be important, therefore, in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Among the lifestyle and environmental factors that have been shown to increase HDL cholesterol are moderate alcohol intake and estrogen administration. Phytoestrogens, molecules of plant origin that resemble estrogen and act as weak estrogens, do not have a clear effect on HDL cholesterol. The molecular mechanisms of action of alcohol, estrogen, and phytoestrogens on HDL are under investigation. [source] | ||||||||||