Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
08:37
Assessment of Glutamine as a Fuel Source for Alveolar Macrophages Exposed to Chronic Ethanol Using an Extracellular Flux Bioanalyzer
Published on: November 15, 2024
726
Alcohol's Effects on the Lung and Lung Disease
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska Nebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Alcohol Research : Current Reviews
|November 28, 2025
Summary
Alcohol misuse harms lung health by impairing pathogen clearance and immune responses. Understanding these mechanisms may reveal new therapeutic targets for alcohol-related lung diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Toxicology
- Immunology
Background:
- Alcohol misuse is a significant risk factor for various lung diseases, including pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
- Ethanol consumption alters lung function mechanically and immunologically.
- Identifying these alterations can lead to novel therapeutic strategies for respiratory conditions linked to alcohol abuse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms by which alcohol misuse causes lung damage.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for alcohol-induced lung diseases.
- To highlight knowledge gaps in alcohol-associated lung disease research.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Medline, and Embase.
- Studies published between January 2000 and January 2025 were included, using keywords related to alcohol and lung/respiratory effects.
- 148 studies were reviewed, with 114 cited, and 15 historical papers included.
Main Results:
- Alcohol misuse impairs mucus clearance of bacteria and increases microbial aspiration.
- It suppresses the function of innate and adaptive immune cells in the lungs.
- Reduced antioxidant levels and metabolites associated with alcohol consumption may also contribute to lung disease.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol misuse significantly increases lung susceptibility to infection and injury.
- Key mechanisms involve impaired immune cell function and pathogen clearance.
- Potential therapeutic targets exist, but further research is needed on dose-dependency, sex differences, and co-exposures.
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