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Acute Alcohol Infusion Suppresses Endotoxin‐induced Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor
Author(s) -
D'Souza Nympha B.,
Bagby Gregory J.,
Nelson Steve,
Lang Charles H.,
Spitzer John J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1989.tb00329.x
Subject(s) - tumor necrosis factor alpha , immune system , ethanol , medicine , alcohol , endocrinology , tumor necrosis factor α , necrosis , alcohol consumption , immunology , pharmacology , biology , biochemistry
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is suggested to play an important role in host defense as well as in eliciting some of the metabolic alterations in endotoxemia. Bacteria and their products are involved in triggering the production and release of TNF. Alcohol consumption is known to suppress the immune system and increase susceptibility to infections. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of acute ethanol administration on the ability of endotoxin to increase circulating TNF levels and to determine the relationship between blood ethanol levels and endotoxin‐induced serum TNF. A 50% decrease in serum TNF levels was seen 1–1.5 h after endotoxin challenge in conscious rats with blood alcohol levels between 75–175 mg/dl. A dose‐related depression of serum TNF was observed with increasing blood alcohol levels. This was accompanied by a markedly diminished hyperlactacidemia seen following endotoxin administration. These data suggest that impaired TNF release may have a role in the altered immune response of alcoholics to infection.