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A recent perspective on alcohol, immunity, and host defense
Gyongyi Szabo1, Pranoti Mandrekar
1Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. gyongyi.szabo@umassmed.edu
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|December 5, 2008
Summary
Alcohol consumption disrupts immune system function, increasing infection risk and severity. This review details how alcohol impacts both innate and adaptive immunity, affecting host defense and organ health.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Toxicology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Extensive evidence links alcohol consumption to immune system dysfunction.
- Both acute and chronic alcohol use can lead to immune abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on alcohol-induced immunomodulation.
- To examine the consequences of alcohol on host defense and tissue injury.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of Medline and PubMed databases (2000-2008).
- Focus on alcohol use, infection, inflammation, innate, and adaptive immunity.
Main Results:
- Alcohol intake alters innate and adaptive immune responses.
- Discusses in vivo and in vitro studies of alcohol administration.
- Evaluates alcohol's effects on lung infections, trauma, burns, liver, pancreas, and cardiovascular diseases.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol consumption impairs immune cell function and adaptive immunity.
- Leads to higher incidence and worse outcomes of infections.
- Contributes to organ-specific immune-mediated effects.
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