Production of inflammatory cytokines by peripheral blood monocytes in chronic alcoholism: Relationship with ethanol intake and liver disease

Background: Controversial results have been reported about the effects of alcoholism on the functionality of monacytes. In the present study we analyze the effects of chronic alcoholism on the intracellular production of inflammatory cytokines by peripheral blood (PB) monocytes. Methods: Spontaneous and in vitro-stimulated production of interleukin (IL) 1 beta, IL6, IL12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF alpha) by PB monocytes was analyzed at the single level by flow cytometry in chronic alcoholics without liver disease and active ethanol (EtOH) intake (AWLD group), as well as in patients with alcohol liver cirrhosis (ALC group), who were either actively drinking (ALCET group) or with alcohol withdrawal (ALCAW group). Results: A significantly increased spontaneous production of IL1 beta, IL6, IL12, and TNF alpha was observed on PB monocytes among AWLD individuals. Conversely, circulating monocytes form ALCET patients showed an abnormally low spontaneous and stimulated production of inflammatory cytokines. No significant changes were observed in ALCAW group as regards production of IL1 beta, IL6, IL12, and TNF alpha. Conclusion: Our results show an altered pattern of production of inflammatory cytokines in PB monocytes from chronic alcoholic patients, the exact abnormalities observed depending on both the status of EtOH intake and the existence of alcoholic liver disease. (c) 2007 Clinical Cytometry Society.