Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Rapid Quantification of Mitogen-induced Blastogenesis in T Lymphocytes for Identifying Immunomodulatory Drugs
08:13

Rapid Quantification of Mitogen-induced Blastogenesis in T Lymphocytes for Identifying Immunomodulatory Drugs

Published on: December 27, 2016

Alcohol inhibits cell mitosis in G2-M phase in cell cycle in a human lymphocytes in vitro study

B S Ahluwalia1, L S Westney, S U Rajguru

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Howard University, College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA.

Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.)
|November 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Alcohol consumption significantly impairs lymphocyte cell division, particularly during the G2-M phase of the cell cycle. This study reveals how alcohol affects immune cell mitosis, impacting infection resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Alcohol abuse is linked to weakened immune function and increased susceptibility to infections.
  • The precise mechanisms by which alcohol detrimentally affects the immune system are not fully understood.
  • Understanding alcohol's impact on immune cell proliferation is crucial for addressing infection risks in alcohol-abusing populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of alcohol on lymphocyte cell mitosis.
  • To determine the specific phase of the cell cycle where alcohol exerts its inhibitory effects on lymphocytes.

Main Methods:

  • Cultured lymphocytes were exposed to varying concentrations of alcohol (10-100 mM).
  • Cell mitosis rates were measured to assess alcohol's impact on cell proliferation.
  • DNA synthesis was analyzed to identify the affected phase of the cell cycle (G1-S vs. G2-M).

Main Results:

  • Alcohol significantly decreased lymphocyte cell mitosis in a dose-dependent manner (18-90% reduction from 10-40 mM).
  • DNA synthesis remained unaffected up to 50 mM alcohol, indicating the G1-S phase was not the primary target.
  • At 100 mM alcohol, DNA synthesis was significantly reduced, and mitosis was virtually halted.

Conclusions:

  • A subpharmacological dose of 10 mM alcohol significantly inhibited lymphocyte cell mitosis.
  • Alcohol's inhibitory effect on cell mitosis primarily occurs during the G2-M phase of the cell cycle.
  • The G1-S phase of the cell cycle appears unaffected by alcohol at concentrations up to 50 mM.

More Related Videos

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols12:02

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols

Published on: June 6, 2017

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis08:33

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis

Published on: December 5, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
Positive Regulator Molecules02:39

Positive Regulator Molecules

Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
Inhibition of CDK Activity02:34

Inhibition of CDK Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...