[Hepatic clearance of Escherichia coli during chronic alcoholic intoxication]

The effects of chronic ethanolic intoxication on the phagocytic and bactericidal activity of the hepatic reticuloendothelial system against viable Escherichia coli were examined using be in vitro perfused at liver system. Livers were isolated from control and ethanol treated animals (3 week) and perfused with a red cell-free medium containing 4% homologous serum from control rats. After addition of E. coli (2 X 10(7) cell/ml) to the perfusing medium hepatic clearance of bacteria was measured by determining the recovery of viable cells in the perfusate, liver and bile after 30 min experimental time. Livers from ethanol treated animal showed a slightly lower phagocytic activity respect control animals, but were not able to kill phagocytized bacteria (20% intraphagocytic killing occurred in control livers). Our date suggest that the higher susceptibility toward infections with gram negative bacteria during chronic ethanol intoxication might be mediated by a impairment of functional activity of hepatic macrophages which may be independent of changes in serum opsonins.