Association between circulating inflammatory molecules and alcoholic liver disease in men

The association between alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and the inflammatory response remains controversial. The aim of this study was to explore this association between ALD and inflammation. We enrolled 214 male participants, who were divided into three age-matched groups: ALD (n = 135), chronic alcohol ingestion without ALD (non-ALD; n = 42), and control (n = 37). The BMI was significantly higher in the ALD group than in the non-ALD and control groups (all P = 0.000). Further, the constituent ratio of the liver inflammatory level was significantly higher in the ALD group than in the non-ALD and control groups (P = 0.002 and P = 0.000, respectively). In addition, the median serum ALT, AST, and GGT levels were significantly higher in the ALD group than in the control group (P = 0.023, P = 0.008, and P = 0.000, respectively); these levels were also significantly higher in the ALD group than in the non-ALD group (P = 0.013, P = 0.010, and P = 0.000, respectively). The median serum CRP level was significantly higher in the ALD group than in the non-ALD and control groups (P = 0.006 and P = 0.000, respectively). Further, the median serum TNF-α level was significantly lower in the ALD group than in the non-ALD and control groups (P = 0.004 and P = 0.000, respectively). The median serum sOX40L and HSP70 levels were significantly lower in the ALD group than in the control group (P = 0.008 and P = 0.018, respectively). In addition, the ALT, AST, and GGT levels were positively correlated with the CRP level (r = 0.211, P = 0.002; r = 0.220, P = 0.001 and r = 0.295, P = 0.000, respectively), and the GGT level was negatively correlated with the TNF-α (r = -0.225, P = 0.001), sOX40L (r = -0.165, P = 0.016), and HSP70 levels (r = -0.178, P = 0.009). Further, the Cr level was negatively correlated with the IL-10 level (r = -0.166, P = 0.015). Logistic regression analysis verified that the BMI (OR  =  1.637, 95%CI: 1.374-1.951, P  =  0.000) and GGT level were significantly higher (OR  =  1.039, 95%CI: 1.020-1.059, P  =  0.000) and that the TNF-α (OR  =  0.998, 95%CI: 0.996-1.000, P  =  0.030) and HSP70 levels were significantly lower (OR  =  1.017, 95%CI: 1.003-1.031, P  =  0.029) in the ALD group than in the non-ALD group. Further, the moderate-to-severe ALD patients had a significantly higher serum CRP level (Or =   1.349, 95%CI: 1.066-1.702, P  =  0.013) and significantly lower HSP60 (OR  =  0.965, 95%CI: 0.938-0.993, P  =  0.014) and HSP70 levels (OR  =  0.978, 95%CI: 0.962-0.995, P  =  0.010) than the mild ALD patients. These results suggest that ALD patients may present with obesity, liver damage, and an imbalanced inflammatory immune response, mainly manifesting as decreased levels of immune inflammatory cytokines. In addition, they suggest that certain liver and kidney function parameters and ALD severity are either positively or negatively correlated with certain inflammatory cytokines. Hence, ALD patients may be at increased risks of obesity- and inflammation-related diseases. Accordingly, to control the inflammatory response, preventative measures for patients with this disease should include weight control and protection of liver and kidney function.