ALCOHOL, IMMUNOMODULATION, AND DISEASE

Recent research findings point to a spectrum of alcohol-induced immune dysfunctions in animal models and humans. Use of alcohol in vivo caus es abnormalities in the function and/or structure of a broad array of cells involved in humoral and cellular immunity, including lymphocytes , Kupffer cells and other macrophages, as well as the endothelium of b lood vessels and lymphatics. Regulatory cytokines and neuroendocrine f actors can mediate some of these immunomodulatory effects which may be further re-phased, exaggerated or unbalanced by other drugs of misuse . A variety of animal models is available to study acute and chronic a lcoholism, non-alcohol drug misuse, AIDS as well as other opportunisti c infections, and neoplasias, which hold promise of clarifying the rol e of alcohol as an immunomodulator.