[Monocyte tumor necrosis factor and tumor necrosis factor receptor expression in patients with alcoholic liver...

We evaluated the spontaneous production of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF alpha) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR) and determined whether TNF alpha and sTNFR expression on mononuclear cells in vitro in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (AC) was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or ethanol stimulation. Their levels were examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis showed higher spontaneous expression in TNF alpha and sTNFRp55, p75 on monocyte than controls. The concentration of TNF alpha and both sTNFR from LPS-stimulated peripheral blood monocyte either in patients or in healthy controls was markedly increased as compared with spontaneous production. The patients showed significantly higher level of TNF alpha and both sTNFRp55, p75 than controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.005 respectively). Increased TNF alpha and both sTNFR expressions following ethanol stimulation were not found neither in patients nor in controls. These data suggest that elevated TNF alpha and sTNFR levels in serum are correlated with activation of mononuclear cells in vivo, which is closely correlated with endotoxin, but no direct correlation with ethanol is found.