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Diminished CD4+ T cell surface CCR5 expression in alcoholic patients
Pascal Perney1, Pierre Portalès, Jacques Clot
1Service de Médecine Interne E, Hôpital Saint Eloi, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France. p-perney@chu-montpellier.fr
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
|October 23, 2004
Summary
Chronic alcohol consumption significantly decreases C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) expression on T cells. This reduction in CCR5 may disrupt immune balance, potentially impacting inflammatory responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- C-C chemokine receptors, especially CCR5, are crucial for T cell-mediated inflammation.
- Understanding the effects of chronic alcohol use on immune cell function is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo impact of chronic alcohol consumption on CCR5 expression.
- To determine if alcohol abuse alters CCR5 levels on T cells.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study comparing 14 alcoholic men undergoing detoxification with 49 age-matched controls.
- Quantification of CCR5 surface expression on CD4(+) T cells.
Main Results:
- Alcoholic patients exhibited significantly lower CCR5 densities on CD4(+) T cells (5319 molecules/cell) compared to controls (10,944 molecules/cell).
- The difference in CCR5 expression was statistically significant (P < 10(-4)).
Conclusions:
- Chronic alcohol consumption is linked to a marked reduction in CCR5 expression.
- Decreased CCR5 may contribute to Th1/Th2 immune imbalance in alcoholism.