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Raval NR, Angarita G, Matuskey D, Miller R, Drake LR, Kapinos M, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Carson RE, O'Malley SS, Cosgrove KP, Hillmer AT. Imaging the brain's immune response to alcohol with [ 11C]PBR28 TSPO Positron Emission Tomography. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3384-3390. [PMID: 37532797 PMCID: PMC10743097 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02198-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
In humans, the negative effects of alcohol are linked to immune dysfunction in both the periphery and the brain. Yet acute effects of alcohol on the neuroimmune system and its relationships with peripheral immune function are not fully understood. To address this gap, immune response to an alcohol challenge was measured with positron emission tomography (PET) using the radiotracer [11C]PBR28, which targets the 18-kDa translocator protein, a marker sensitive to immune challenges. Participants (n = 12; 5 F; 25-45 years) who reported consuming binge levels of alcohol (>3 drinks for females; >4 drinks for males) 1-3 months before scan day were enrolled. Imaging featured a baseline [11C]PBR28 scan followed by an oral laboratory alcohol challenge over 90 min. An hour later, a second [11C]PBR28 scan was acquired. Dynamic PET data were acquired for at least 90 min with arterial blood sampling to measure the metabolite-corrected input function. [11C]PBR28 volume of distributions (VT) was estimated in the brain using multilinear analysis 1. Subjective effects, blood alcohol levels (BAL), and plasma cytokines were measured during the paradigm. Full completion of the alcohol challenge and data acquisition occurred for n = 8 (2 F) participants. Mean peak BAL was 101 ± 15 mg/dL. Alcohol significantly increased brain [11C]PBR28 VT (n = 8; F(1,49) = 34.72, p > 0.0001; Cohen's d'=0.8-1.7) throughout brain by 9-16%. Alcohol significantly altered plasma cytokines TNF-α (F(2,22) = 17.49, p < 0.0001), IL-6 (F(2,22) = 18.00, p > 0.0001), and MCP-1 (F(2,22) = 7.02, p = 0.004). Exploratory analyses identified a negative association between the subjective degree of alcohol intoxication and changes in [11C]PBR28 VT. These findings provide, to our knowledge, the first in vivo human evidence for an acute brain immune response to alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nakul R Raval
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Gustavo Angarita
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David Matuskey
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neurology, Yale University New Haven, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rachel Miller
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lindsey R Drake
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael Kapinos
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nabeel Nabulsi
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yiyun Huang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Richard E Carson
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Kelly P Cosgrove
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ansel T Hillmer
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Yale PET Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Biggs AT, Littlejohn LF. Describing mRNA Vaccine Technology for a Military Audience. Mil Med 2023; 188:547-554. [PMID: 35584186 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vaccine technology has improved substantially since the first smallpox vaccine, developed more than 200 years ago. As technology improves, vaccines can be produced more safely and reliably for many different pathogens. A recent breakthrough saw the first full deployment of mRNA vaccines to fight a pandemic. Despite the technological and logistical feat of developing a viable vaccine in an abbreviated time frame, there have been many questions about this new approach to vaccine development. The current review will provide descriptions about different types of vaccines as well as answers to some common questions about mRNA vaccines. The purpose is to provide military medical professionals with the information needed to better convey the importance and function of these new vaccines to service members. MATERIALS AND METHODS There were no explicit inclusion or exclusion criteria for articles describing mRNA vaccine technology. References included here were intended to illustrate important principles or empirical evidence in demonstrating the safety, efficacy, and function of mRNA vaccines. DISCUSSION The review describes three different types of vaccines: whole-pathogen, subunit, and nucleic acid. Each vaccine type has different implications for the development and production of a vaccine line. For example, whole-pathogen and subunit vaccines often require growing significant amounts of the vaccine sample in laboratory before the material can be incorporated into the vaccine. Nucleic acid vaccines instead provide cells the opportunity to produce key proteins without needing to reproduce the virus and attenuate it in a laboratory setting. This approach has a notable advantage of speed in moving from genome sequencing to vaccine production, but it also creates some potential confusion. The discussion covers three questions with regard to this confusion. First, was the vaccine developed too quickly? Speed here is a byproduct of the new technology and unprecedented government interdepartmental cooperation. No steps were skipped in development or production. Second, does the vaccine modify DNA? No, the mRNA vaccines never enter the cell nucleus and therefore cannot modify DNA. The discussion clarifies how mRNA enters cells and produces the key proteins required to stimulate an immune system response. Third, how long will immunity last? Because mRNA vaccines are new, long-term immunity cannot be projected without significant further study. Still, the discussion does cover issues in determining vaccine efficacy in clinical laboratory trials versus field effectiveness in the real world. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE USES These mRNA vaccines are the newest and most sophisticated defensive tool military medicine has against emerging biological threats. Evolving dangers, such as synthetic biology and engineered pathogens, further enhance the importance of having defensive countermeasures that can be rapidly deployed in response. Current evidence suggests high safety and effectiveness for a biological countermeasure, decades in the making, and military medical personnel should feel confident using and recommending this technology to ensure force health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam T Biggs
- Medical Department, Naval Special Warfare Command, Coronado, CA 92155, USA
| | - Lanny F Littlejohn
- Medical Department, Naval Special Warfare Command, Coronado, CA 92155, USA
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Towards a Future of Personalized Vaccinology: Study on Individual Variables Influencing the Antibody Response to the COVID-19 Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020217. [PMID: 36851095 PMCID: PMC9961107 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has hugely impacted many different aspects of human health, and vaccination is one of the most effective weapons to manage it. However, many different factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities and lifestyles, play a role in the response to infections and vaccines. We carried out this study to evaluate the potential role played by some individual factors in the production of anti-COVID-19 antibodies in the light of personalized and future vaccinology. We conducted an observational study consisting of a retrospective phase, exploiting previous data about anti-COVID-19 antibody responses, with a prospective phase to investigate individual variables through the use of a questionnaire. The antibody response after the COVID-19 vaccination was inversely related to old age, increased BMI and the number of smoking years, while a positive correlation was found with moderate alcohol consumption and especially with circulating levels of vitamin D, as clearly shown by the multivariate regression analysis. Our study showed that a number of variables are involved in the COVID-19 vaccine antibody response. These findings are very important and can be considered in the light of a future and personalized vaccinology.
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Ferguson LB, Mayfield RD, Messing RO. RNA biomarkers for alcohol use disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1032362. [PMID: 36407766 PMCID: PMC9673015 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1032362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent and one of the leading causes of disability in the US and around the world. There are some molecular biomarkers of heavy alcohol use and liver damage which can suggest AUD, but these are lacking in sensitivity and specificity. AUD treatment involves psychosocial interventions and medications for managing alcohol withdrawal, assisting in abstinence and reduced drinking (naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram, and some off-label medications), and treating comorbid psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression and anxiety). It has been suggested that various patient groups within the heterogeneous AUD population would respond more favorably to specific treatment approaches. For example, there is some evidence that so-called reward-drinkers respond better to naltrexone than acamprosate. However, there are currently no objective molecular markers to separate patients into optimal treatment groups or any markers of treatment response. Objective molecular biomarkers could aid in AUD diagnosis and patient stratification, which could personalize treatment and improve outcomes through more targeted interventions. Biomarkers of treatment response could also improve AUD management and treatment development. Systems biology considers complex diseases and emergent behaviors as the outcome of interactions and crosstalk between biomolecular networks. A systems approach that uses transcriptomic (or other -omic data, e.g., methylome, proteome, metabolome) can capture genetic and environmental factors associated with AUD and potentially provide sensitive, specific, and objective biomarkers to guide patient stratification, prognosis of treatment response or relapse, and predict optimal treatments. This Review describes and highlights state-of-the-art research on employing transcriptomic data and artificial intelligence (AI) methods to serve as molecular biomarkers with the goal of improving the clinical management of AUD. Considerations about future directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B. Ferguson
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Laura B. Ferguson,
| | - R. Dayne Mayfield
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Robert O. Messing
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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Lewis SA, Doratt B, Sureshchandra S, Pan T, Gonzales SW, Shen W, Grant KA, Messaoudi I. Profiling of extracellular vesicle-bound miRNA to identify candidate biomarkers of chronic alcohol drinking in nonhuman primates. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:221-231. [PMID: 34910314 PMCID: PMC8858875 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term alcohol drinking is associated with numerous health complications including susceptibility to infection, cancer, and organ damage. However, due to the complex nature of human drinking behavior, it has been challenging to identify reliable biomarkers of alcohol drinking behavior prior to signs of overt organ damage. Recently, extracellular vesicle-bound microRNAs (EV-miRNAs) have been found to be consistent biomarkers of conditions that include cancer and liver disease. METHODS In this study, we profiled the plasma EV-miRNA content by miRNA-Seq from 80 nonhuman primates after 12 months of voluntary alcohol drinking. RESULTS We identified a list of up- and downregulated EV-miRNA candidate biomarkers of heavy drinking and those positively correlated with ethanol dose. We overexpressed these candidate miRNAs in control primary peripheral immune cells to assess their potential functional mechanisms. We found that overexpression of miR-155, miR-154, miR-34c, miR-450a, and miR-204 led to increased production of the inflammatory cytokines TNFα or IL-6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after stimulation. CONCLUSION This exploratory study identified several EV-miRNAs that could serve as biomarkers of long-term alcohol drinking and provide a mechanism to explain alcohol-induced peripheral inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sloan A. Lewis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine CA, USA,Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine CA, USA
| | - Brianna Doratt
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine CA, USA,Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine CA, USA
| | - Suhas Sureshchandra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine CA, USA,Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine CA, USA
| | - Tianyu Pan
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Irvine CA, USA
| | - Steven W. Gonzales
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Weining Shen
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Irvine CA, USA
| | - Kathleen A. Grant
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine CA, USA,Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine CA, USA,Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine CA, USA,Corresponding Author: Ilhem Messaoudi, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, 2400 Biological Sciences III, Irvine, CA 92697, Phone: 949-824-3078,
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Dose-response effects of alcohol on biochemical markers of bone turnover in non-human primates: Effects of species, sex and age of onset of drinking. Bone Rep 2022; 16:101159. [PMID: 34977281 PMCID: PMC8683688 DOI: 10.1016/j.bonr.2021.101159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Alcohol consumption suppressed bone turnover in male non-human primates; however, it is unclear the extent to which this effect depends upon biological variables. Using archived plasma samples, we investigated whether sex, age of onset of alcohol intake, and species influence the effects of graded increases in alcohol consumption on bone turnover markers. Methods 91 male and female macaques (rhesus and cynomolgus), ranging in age from 4 years (adolescent) to 10 years (adult) were required to increase their consumption of ethanol in 30-day increments: 0 g/kg/day, followed by 0.5 g/kg/day, 1.0 g/kg/day, and, finally, 1.5 g/kg/day. Plasma osteocalcin (formation), plasma CTX (resorption) and osteocalcin to CTX ratio (turnover balance) were measured during these intervals to assess the dose-response effects of alcohol. Results We detected no relationship between dose and osteocalcin when all monkeys were combined, but there was a significant effect of sex (lower levels in females) and interactions between alcohol dose and sex (osteocalcin levels increased with dose in rhesus females). In contrast, we detected a negative linear dose-response relationship for ethanol and CTX. We did not detect a relationship between dose and osteocalcin to CTX ratio overall, but there was a significant positive relationship detected in females (no change in males). Increased age predicted lower biomarker levels for both osteocalcin and CTX. Species was a significant predictor for osteocalcin and the osteocalcin to CTX ratio in these models. Conclusion These findings indicate that age, sex, and species influence bone turnover and support the concept that factors beyond quantity of alcohol affect skeletal response to alcohol consumption. Age, sex, and species influenced markers of bone turnover in non-human primates. Ethanol consumption resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in CTX. Ethanol consumption resulted in increased osteocalcin in rhesus females.
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Vallée A. Sexual behaviors, cannabis, alcohol and monkeypox infection. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1054488. [PMID: 36733281 PMCID: PMC9887129 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1054488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreak in 2022 is a worldwide health issue. The rapid increase of monkeypox cases caused the WHO to designate the escalating global monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on July 23, 2022. The WHO has called on the group currently most affected by the virus, men who have sex with men (MSM), to limit their sexual partners. The diminution in number of sexual partners not only decreases the proportion of infected MSM but could also increases the number of days needed to reach a given infection level among the general population. Several behavioral factors could be associated with high levels of different sexual partners, such as cannabis use and alcohol consumption. Firstly, this review focuses on the association between cannabis and alcohol consumption and the number of sexual partners, and their possible impact on the current MPXV outbreak by impairing the immune responses. Secondly, this review investigated in the UK Biobank cohort the relationship between alcohol and cannabis use and the number of sexual partners. Among the 115,604 participants, 1.8% declared to be MSM, 1.9% to be WSW (women having sex with women), 43.3% men heterosexuals and 53.0% women heterosexuals. MSM and WSW showed higher lifetime sexual partners (N = 17.4 (SD:17.52) and N = 13.65 (SD: 13.21), respectively) compared to heterosexual men (N = 6.89 (SD: 9.47) and women (N = 5.19 (SD:6.56), p < 0.001. After adjustment for age, body mass index, lifetime sexual activity, educational and income levels, tobacco and cardiovascular diseases, cannabis use and alcohol consumption remained significantly associated with increase in the number of different sexual partners in all four subgroups. Thus, cannabis use and alcohol consumption may have two detrimental effects on the MPXV outbreak: by participating in the increase of the number of sexual partners which are mainly responsible for the augmentation of the number of new MPXV infected cases and by impairing the immune response to a viral infection. Health and safety policies should address the factors and practices, including chemsex, leading to an increase in risk of sexual behaviors responsible for MPXV dissemination in the worldwide population.
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Malherbe DC, Messaoudi I. Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of Monocyte and Macrophage Dysfunction by Chronic Alcohol Consumption. Front Immunol 2022; 13:911951. [PMID: 35844518 PMCID: PMC9277054 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.911951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Drinking alcohol, even in moderation, can affect the immune system. Studies have shown disproportionate effects of alcohol on circulating and tissue-resident myeloid cells (granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells). These cells orchestrate the body's first line of defense against microbial challenges as well as maintain tissue homeostasis and repair. Alcohol's effects on these cells are dependent on exposure pattern, with acute drinking dampening but chronic drinking enhancing production of inflammatory mediators. Although chronic drinking is associated with heightened systemic inflammation, studies on tissue resident macrophage populations in several organs including the spleen, liver, brain, and lung have also shown compromised functional and metabolic capacities of these cells. Many of these effects are thought to be mediated by oxidative stress caused by alcohol and its metabolites which can directly impact the cellular epigenetic landscapes. In addition, since myeloid cells are relatively short-lived in circulation and are under constant repopulation from the bone marrow compartment, alcohol's effects on bone marrow progenitors and hematopoiesis are important for understanding the impact of alcohol systemically on these myeloid populations. Alcohol-induced disruption of progenitor, circulating, and tissue resident myeloid populations contribute to the increased susceptibility of patients with alcohol use disorders to viral and bacterial infections. In this review, we provide an overview of the impact of chronic alcohol consumption on the function of monocytes and macrophages in host defense, tissue repair and inflammation. We then summarize our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced disruption and examine changes in transcriptome and epigenome of monocytes and mcrophages. Overall, chronic alcohol consumption leads to hyper-inflammation concomitant with decreased microbial and wound healing responses by monocytes/macrophages due to a rewiring of the epigentic and transcriptional landscape. However, in advanced alcoholic liver disease, myeloid cells become immunosuppressed as a response to the surrounding hyper-inflammatory milieu. Therefore, the effect of chronic alcohol on the inflammatory response depends on disease state and the immune cell population.
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Lewis SA, Sureshchandra S, Doratt B, Jimenez VA, Stull C, Grant KA, Messaoudi I. Transcriptional, Epigenetic, and Functional Reprogramming of Monocytes From Non-Human Primates Following Chronic Alcohol Drinking. Front Immunol 2021; 12:724015. [PMID: 34489976 PMCID: PMC8417707 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.724015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic heavy drinking (CHD) of alcohol is a known risk factor for increased susceptibility to bacterial and viral infection as well as impaired wound healing. Evidence suggests that these defects are mediated by a dysregulated inflammatory response originating from myeloid cells, notably monocytes and macrophages, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our ability to study CHD is impacted by the complexities of human drinking patterns and behavior as well as comorbidities and confounding risk factors for patients with alcohol use disorders. To overcome these challenges, we utilized a translational rhesus macaque model of voluntary ethanol self-administration that closely recapitulates human drinking patterns and chronicity. In this study, we examined the effects of CHD on blood monocytes in control and CHD female macaques after 12 months of daily ethanol consumption. While monocytes from CHD female macaques generated a hyper-inflammatory response to ex vivo LPS stimulation, their response to E. coli was dampened. In depth scRNA-Seq analysis of purified monocytes revealed significant shifts in classical monocyte subsets with accumulation of cells expressing markers of hypoxia (HIF1A) and inflammation (NFkB signaling pathway) in CHD macaques. The increased presence of monocyte subsets skewed towards inflammatory phenotypes was complemented by epigenetic analysis, which revealed higher accessibility of promoter regions that regulate genes involved in cytokine signaling pathways. Collectively, data presented in this manuscript demonstrate that CHD shifts classical monocyte subset composition and primes the monocytes towards a more hyper-inflammatory response to LPS, but compromised pathogen response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sloan A. Lewis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Suhas Sureshchandra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Brianna Doratt
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Vanessa A. Jimenez
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Cara Stull
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Kathleen A. Grant
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
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Madison AA, Shrout MR, Renna ME, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Psychological and Behavioral Predictors of Vaccine Efficacy: Considerations for COVID-19. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2021; 16:191-203. [PMID: 33501900 PMCID: PMC7841255 DOI: 10.1177/1745691621989243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine candidates are being evaluated, with the goal of conferring immunity on the highest percentage of people who receive the vaccine as possible. It is noteworthy that vaccine efficacy depends not only on the vaccine but also on characteristics of the vaccinated. Over the past 30 years, a series of studies has documented the impact of psychological factors on the immune system's vaccine response. Robust evidence has demonstrated that stress, depression, loneliness, and poor health behaviors can impair the immune system's response to vaccines, and this effect may be greatest in vulnerable groups such as the elderly. Psychological factors are also implicated in the prevalence and severity of vaccine-related side effects. These findings have generalized across many vaccine types and therefore may be relevant to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. In this review, we discuss these psychological and behavioral risk factors for poor vaccine responses, their relevance to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as targeted psychological and behavioral interventions to boost vaccine efficacy and reduce side effects. Recent data suggest these psychological and behavioral risk factors are highly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, but intervention research suggests that psychological and behavioral interventions can increase vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise A. Madison
- The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University
| | - M. Rosie Shrout
- The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
| | - Megan E. Renna
- The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
| | - Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser
- The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
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Sureshchandra S, Raus A, Jankeel A, Ligh BJK, Walter NAR, Newman N, Grant KA, Messaoudi I. Dose-dependent effects of chronic alcohol drinking on peripheral immune responses. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7847. [PMID: 31127176 PMCID: PMC6534547 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44302-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that chronic heavy alcohol drinking (CHD) results in significant organ damage, increased susceptibility to infections, and poor outcomes following injury. In contrast, chronic moderate drinking (CMD) has been associated with improved cardiovascular health and immunity. These differential outcomes have been linked to alterations in both innate and adaptive branches of the immune system; however, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address this question, we determined the impact of chronic drinking on the transcriptional and functional responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected from male rhesus macaques classified as CMD or CHD after 12 months of voluntary ethanol self-administration. Our analysis suggests that chronic alcohol drinking, regardless of dose alters resting transcriptomes of PBMC, with the largest impact seen in innate immune cells. These transcriptional changes are partially explained by alterations in microRNA profiles. Additionally, chronic alcohol drinking is associated with a dose dependent heightened inflammatory profiled at resting and following LPS stimulation. Moreover, we observed a dose-dependent shift in the kinetics of transcriptional responses to LPS. These findings may explain the dichotomy in clinical and immunological outcomes observed with moderate versus heavy alcohol drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhas Sureshchandra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Anthony Raus
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Allen Jankeel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Brian Jin Kee Ligh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Irvine, 92697, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Nicole A R Walter
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, 97006, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Natali Newman
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, 97006, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Kathleen A Grant
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, 97006, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, 97006, Beaverton, OR, USA.
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12
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Hollister K, Kusumanchi P, Ross RA, Chandler K, Oshodi A, Heathers L, Teagarden S, Wang L, Dent AL, Liangpunsakul S. Levels of circulating follicular helper T cells, T helper 1 cells, and the prognostic significance of soluble form of CD40 ligand on survival in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. LIVER RESEARCH 2018; 2:52-59. [PMID: 30221017 PMCID: PMC6136446 DOI: 10.1016/j.livres.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive drinkers (ED) and patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are several times more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections and have a decrease in antibody responses to vaccinations. Follicular helper T (TFH) cells are essential to select B cells in the germinal center and to produce antibodies. TFH cells express both a membrane-associated and a soluble form of CD40 ligand (sCD40L); in which the latter form is released to circulation upon T cell activation. The effect of alcohol on TFH cells has not been studied. OBJECTIVES The goals of this study are to determine the levels of TFH and T helper 1 (Th1) cells in ED and those with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) when compared to healthy controls and to determine the prognostic significance of sCD40L in a cohort of patients with AC. METHODS Controls, ED, and those with AC were enrolled. Baseline demographic, laboratory tests, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and assessed via flow cytometry for TFH cells. In vitro study was performed to determine the ability of PBMCs to secrete interferon (IFN)-γ upon stimulation. Serum sCD40L were also determined and its prognostic significance was tested in a cohort of AC patients. RESULTS The levels of circulating TFH (cTFH) cells were significantly lower in peripheral blood of subjects with ED and AC compared to controls (P<0.05). IFN-γ secretion from PBMCs upon stimulation was also lower in ED and those with cirrhosis. Serum sCD40L was significantly lower in ED and AC when compared to that in controls (P<0.0005). Its level was an independent predictor of mortality. CONCLUSIONS Patients with AC had significantly lower level of cTFH and sCD40L. The level of sCD40L was an independent predictor of mortality in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Hollister
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Praveen Kusumanchi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ruth Ann Ross
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kristina Chandler
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - AdePeju Oshodi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Laura Heathers
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sean Teagarden
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, and the Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA,Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Alexander L. Dent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA,Corresponding authors. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA (A. L. Dent). Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA (S. Liangpunsakul)., (A. L. Dent), (S. Liangpunsakul)
| | - Suthat Liangpunsakul
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA,Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA,Corresponding authors. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA (A. L. Dent). Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA (S. Liangpunsakul)., (A. L. Dent), (S. Liangpunsakul)
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13
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Cervera-Juanes R, Wilhelm LJ, Park B, Grant KA, Ferguson B. Genome-wide analysis of the nucleus accumbens identifies DNA methylation signals differentiating low/binge from heavy alcohol drinking. Alcohol 2017; 60:103-113. [PMID: 27866807 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol-use disorders encompass a range of drinking levels and behaviors, including low, binge, and heavy drinking. In this regard, investigating the neural state of individuals who chronically self-administer lower doses of alcohol may provide insight into mechanisms that prevent the escalation of alcohol use. DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic mechanisms that stabilizes adaptations in gene expression and has been associated with alcohol use. Thus, we investigated DNA methylation, gene expression, and the predicted neural effects in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) of male rhesus macaques categorized as "low" or "binge" drinkers, compared to "alcohol-naïve" and "heavy" drinkers based on drinking patterns during a 12-month alcohol self-administration protocol. Using genome-wide CpG-rich region enrichment and bisulfite sequencing, the methylation levels of 2.6 million CpGs were compared between alcohol-naïve (AN), low/binge (L/BD), and heavy/very heavy (H/VHD) drinking subjects (n = 24). Through regional clustering analysis, we identified nine significant differential methylation regions (DMRs) that specifically distinguished ANs and L/BDs, and then compared those DMRs among H/VHDs. The DMRs mapped to genes encoding ion channels, receptors, cell adhesion molecules, and cAMP, NF-κβ and Wnt signaling pathway proteins. Two of the DMRs, linked to PDE10A and PKD2L2, were also differentially methylated in H/VHDs, suggesting an alcohol-dose independent effect. However, two other DMRs, linked to the CCBE1 and FZD5 genes, had L/BD methylation levels that significantly differed from both ANs and H/VHDs. The remaining five DMRs also differentiated L/BDs and ANs. However, H/VHDs methylation levels were not distinguishable from either of the two groups. Functional validation of two DMRs, linked to FZD5 and PDE10A, support their role in regulating gene expression and exon usage, respectively. In summary, the findings demonstrate that L/BD is associated with unique DNA methylation signatures in the primate NAcc, and that the methylation signatures identify synaptic genes that may play a role in preventing the escalation of alcohol use.
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14
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Jimenez VA, Grant KA. Studies using macaque monkeys to address excessive alcohol drinking and stress interactions. Neuropharmacology 2017; 122:127-135. [PMID: 28347838 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The use of non-human primates (NHPs) in studies of volitional, oral self-administration of alcohol can help address the complex interplay between stress and excessive alcohol consumption. There are aspects to brain, endocrine and behavior of NHPs, particularly macaques, that provide a critical translational link towards understanding the risks and consequences of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in humans. These include wide individual differences in escalating daily alcohol intake, accurate measures of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormonal interactions, neuroanatomical specificity of synaptic adaptations to chronic alcohol, genetic similarities to humans, and the ability to conduct in vivo brain imaging. When placed in a framework that alcohol addiction is a sequence of dysregulations in motivational circuitry associated with severity of AUD, the NHP can provide within-subject information on both risks for and consequences of repeatedly drinking to intoxication. Notably, long-term adaptations in neurocircuitry that mediate behavioral reinforcement, stress responses and executive functions are possible with NHPs. We review here the substantial progress made using NHPs to address the complex relationship between alcohol and stress as risk factors and consequences of daily drinking to intoxication. This review also highlights areas where future studies of brain and HPA axis adaptations are needed to better understand the mechanisms involved in stress leading to excessive alcohol consumption. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Alcoholism".
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa A Jimenez
- Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kathleen A Grant
- Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland, OR, USA; Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Neuroscience, Beaverton, OR, USA.
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15
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Kiwanuka N, Ssetaala A, Ssekandi I, Nalutaaya A, Kitandwe PK, Ssempiira J, Bagaya BS, Balyegisawa A, Kaleebu P, Hahn J, Lindan C, Sewankambo NK. Population attributable fraction of incident HIV infections associated with alcohol consumption in fishing communities around Lake Victoria, Uganda. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171200. [PMID: 28207844 PMCID: PMC5313154 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although the association between alcohol consumption and HIV risk is well documented, few studies have examined the magnitude of new HIV infections that could be prevented by controlling alcohol use. We report the population attributable fraction (PAF) of incident HIV infections due to alcohol consumption among the HIV high-risk population of fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Uganda. Methods In a community-based cohort study, 1607 HIV sero-negative participants aged 18–49 years were enrolled from eight fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Uganda. At follow up 12 months later, 1288 (80.1%) were seen and interviewed. At baseline and follow-up visits, participants completed interviewer-administered questionnaires on alcohol consumption, demographics, and sexual risk behavior, and were tested for HIV infection. HIV incidence and adjusted incident rate ratios (adjusted IRRs) were estimated using Poisson regression models; the crude and adjusted PAFs of incident HIV infections associated with alcohol consumption were calculated using the Greenland and Drescher method for cohort studies. Results Among the 1288 participants seen at follow up, 53.5% reported drinking alcohol of whom 24.4% drank occasionally (2 days a week or less) and 29.1% drank regularly (3–7 days a week). Forty eight incident HIV infections occurred giving an incidence rate of 3.39/100 person years at-risk (pyar) (95% CI, 2.55–4.49). Compared to non-drinkers, the adjusted IRR of HIV was 3.09 (1.13–8.46) among occasional drinkers and 5.34 (2.04–13.97) among regular drinkers. The overall adjusted PAF of incident HIV infections due alcohol was 64.1 (95% CI; 23.5–83.1); ranging from 52.3 (11.9–74.2) among Muslims to 71.2 (32.6–87.7) for participants who reported ≥ 2 sexual partners in the past 12 months. Conclusion In fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Uganda, 64% of new HIV infections can be attributed to drinking alcohol. Interventions to reduce alcohol consumption should be integrated in HIV/AIDS prevention activities for populations in whom both HIV and alcohol consumption are highly prevalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Kiwanuka
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Uganda Virus Research Institute-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative HIV Vaccine Program, Entebbe, Uganda
- * E-mail:
| | - Ali Ssetaala
- Uganda Virus Research Institute-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative HIV Vaccine Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Ismail Ssekandi
- Uganda Virus Research Institute-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative HIV Vaccine Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Annet Nalutaaya
- Uganda Virus Research Institute-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative HIV Vaccine Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Paul Kato Kitandwe
- Uganda Virus Research Institute-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative HIV Vaccine Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Julius Ssempiira
- Uganda Virus Research Institute-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative HIV Vaccine Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Bernard Ssentalo Bagaya
- Uganda Virus Research Institute-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative HIV Vaccine Program, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Apolo Balyegisawa
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Pontiano Kaleebu
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Insitute, Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Judith Hahn
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Christina Lindan
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Nelson Kaulukusi Sewankambo
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Kampala, Uganda
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16
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Helms CM, Bell RL, Bennett AJ, Davies DL, Chester JA, Kosten TA, Leeman RF, Panicker S, Platt DM, Weiner JL, Edwards S. The importance of animals in advancing research on alcohol use disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 39:575-8. [PMID: 25833015 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christa M Helms
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon
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Opposing effects of alcohol on the immune system. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2016; 65:242-51. [PMID: 26375241 PMCID: PMC4911891 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have described a dose-dependent effect of alcohol on human health with light to moderate drinkers having a lower risk of all-cause mortality than abstainers, while heavy drinkers are at the highest risk. In the case of the immune system, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced inflammation and improved responses to vaccination, while chronic heavy drinking is associated with a decreased frequency of lymphocytes and increased risk of both bacterial and viral infections. However, the mechanisms by which alcohol exerts a dose-dependent effect on the immune system remain poorly understood due to a lack of systematic studies that examine the effect of multiple doses and different time courses. This review will summarize our current understanding of the impact of moderate versus excessive alcohol consumption on the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system derived from both in vitro as well as in vivo studies carried out in humans and animal model studies.
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18
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Barr T, Girke T, Sureshchandra S, Nguyen C, Grant K, Messaoudi I. Alcohol Consumption Modulates Host Defense in Rhesus Macaques by Altering Gene Expression in Circulating Leukocytes. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 196:182-95. [PMID: 26621857 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence indicate that chronic alcohol use disorder leads to increased susceptibility to several viral and bacterial infections, whereas moderate alcohol consumption decreases the incidence of colds and improves immune responses to some pathogens. In line with these observations, we recently showed that heavy ethanol intake (average blood ethanol concentrations > 80 mg/dl) suppressed, whereas moderate alcohol consumption (blood ethanol concentrations < 50 mg/dl) enhanced, T and B cell responses to modified vaccinia Ankara vaccination in a nonhuman primate model of voluntary ethanol consumption. To uncover the molecular basis for impaired immunity with heavy alcohol consumption and enhanced immune response with moderate alcohol consumption, we performed a transcriptome analysis using PBMCs isolated on day 7 post-modified vaccinia Ankara vaccination, the earliest time point at which we detected differences in T cell and Ab responses. Overall, chronic heavy alcohol consumption reduced the expression of immune genes involved in response to infection and wound healing and increased the expression of genes associated with the development of lung inflammatory disease and cancer. In contrast, chronic moderate alcohol consumption upregulated the expression of genes involved in immune response and reduced the expression of genes involved in cancer. To uncover mechanisms underlying the alterations in PBMC transcriptomes, we profiled the expression of microRNAs within the same samples. Chronic heavy ethanol consumption altered the levels of several microRNAs involved in cancer and immunity and known to regulate the expression of mRNAs differentially expressed in our data set.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasha Barr
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Thomas Girke
- Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521; and
| | - Suhas Sureshchandra
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Christina Nguyen
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Kathleen Grant
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006
| | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521;
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Baker EJ, Farro J, Gonzales S, Helms C, Grant KA. Chronic alcohol self-administration in monkeys shows long-term quantity/frequency categorical stability. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2015; 38:2835-43. [PMID: 25421519 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current criteria for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) do not include consumption (quantity/frequency) measures of alcohol intake, in part due to the difficulty of these measures in humans. Animal models of ethanol (EtOH) self-administration have been fundamental in advancing our understanding of the neurobiological basis of AUD and can address quantity/frequency measures with accurate measurements over prolonged periods of time. The nonhuman primate model of voluntary oral alcohol self-administration has documented both binge drinking and drinking to dependence and can be used to test the stability of consumption measures over time. METHODS Here, an extensive set of alcohol intakes (g/kg/d) was analyzed from a large multi-cohort population of Rhesus (Macaca mulatta) monkeys (n = 31). Daily EtOH intake was uniformly distributed over chronic (12 months) access for all animals. RESULTS Underlying this distribution of intakes were subpopulations of monkeys that exhibited distinctive clustering of drinking patterns, allowing us to categorically define very heavy drinking (VHD), heavy drinking (HD), binge drinking (BD), and low drinking (LD). These categories were stable across the 12 months assessed by the protocol, but exhibited fluctuations when examined at shorter intervals. CONCLUSIONS The establishment of persistent drinking categories based on quantity/frequency suggests that consumption variables can be used to track long-term changes in behavioral, molecular, or physiochemical mechanisms related to our understanding of diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and treatment efficacies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich J Baker
- Department of Computer Science, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
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20
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Pasala S, Barr T, Messaoudi I. Impact of Alcohol Abuse on the Adaptive Immune System. Alcohol Res 2015; 37:185-97. [PMID: 26695744 PMCID: PMC4590616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol exposure, and particularly chronic heavy drinking, affects all components of the adaptive immune system. Studies both in humans and in animal models determined that chronic alcohol abuse reduces the number of peripheral T cells, disrupts the balance between different T-cell types, influences T-cell activation, impairs T-cell functioning, and promotes T-cell apoptosis. Chronic alcohol exposure also seems to cause loss of peripheral B cells, while simultaneously inducing increased production of immunoglobulins. In particular, the levels of antibodies against liver-specific autoantigens are increased in patients with alcoholic liver disease and may promote alcohol-related liver damage. Finally, chronic alcohol exposure in utero interferes with normal T-cell and B-cell development, which may increase the risk of infections during both childhood and adulthood. Alcohol's impact on T cells and B cells increases the risk of infections (e.g., pneumonia, HIV infection, hepatitis C virus infection, and tuberculosis), impairs responses to vaccinations against such infections, exacerbates cancer risk, and interferes with delayed-type hypersensitivity. In contrast to these deleterious effects of heavy alcohol exposure, moderate alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on the adaptive immune system, including improved responses to vaccination and infection. The molecular mechanisms underlying ethanol's impact on the adaptive immune system remain poorly understood.
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Messaoudi I, Pasala S, Grant K. Could moderate alcohol intake be recommended to improve vaccine responses? Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 13:817-9. [PMID: 24872009 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2014.924405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The impact of alcohol consumption on human health is complex and modulated by several factors such as patterns and amount of drinking, genetics, the organ system studied, as well as the sex and age of the user. There is strong evidence that chronic ethanol abuse is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to both bacterial and viral infections. In contrast, moderate alcohol consumption exerts positive effects including decreased mortality, and improved cardiovascular disease and insulin sensitivity. Interestingly, accumulating evidence also supports an immune-boosting effect of moderate alcohol. In this editorial, we summarize the findings that support a positive effect of moderate alcohol on host immunity. We also discuss the limitations of the previous data and emphasize the importance of additional studies to uncover mechanisms for these immune-stimulating effects in order to extend these benefits to vulnerable segments of the population who cannot consume alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilhem Messaoudi
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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