Effects of ethanol on cultured human fibroblasts

The effects of ethanol on cellular functions of growth and low density lipoprotein uptake were studied with cultured human fibroblasts, WI-38. Cells were grown in basal medium for 24 hr, then incubated in medium containing 0, 100, or 500 mM ethanol for various times. Growth in 100 mM ethanol had little effect, but growth in 500 mM ethanol for 24 or more hours significantly decreased the number of cells per dish and increased the protein, but not the DNA, content, per cell. Exposure to 500 mM ethanol had little effect on protein synthesis but significantly depressed DNA synthesis. It was also evident from microscopy that fewer but larger cells were present. There appeared to be no consistent acute effects of 500 mM ethanol on the uptake of lipoproteins by confluent monolayers of cells. After chronic exposure, uptake was comparable to that of 0 or 100 mM ethanol when expressed as nanogram of lipoprotein/mg of cell protein but higher when expressed as picograms/cell. The results suggest that 500 mM ethanol decreased the rate of cell division but resulted in enlargement of cells.