SEROTONIN-IMMUNE INTERACTIONS IN DETOXIFIED CHRONIC-ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS WITHOUT APPARENT LIVER-DISEASE - ACTIVATION OF THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYSTEM AND LOWER PLASMA TOTAL TRYPTOPHAN

The aims of the present study were to examine (1) the inflammatory res ponse system (IRS), through measurements of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) , soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), sgp130 (the soluble form of the IL-6 transducer signal protein), CC16 (Clara Cell protein; an endogenous a nti-cytokine), IL-1R antagonist (IL-1RA), IL-8 and sCD14; and (2) the availability of plasma total tryptophan to the brain in chronic alcoho lic patients without apparent liver disease (AWLD). Detoxified AWLD pa tients had significantly lower plasma tryptophan and serum CC16 and si gnificantly higher serum IL-1RA and IL-8 concentrations than normal vo lunteers. There were significant correlations between the availability of tryptophan to the brain and serum IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1RA (all negat ive) and CC16 (positive). The results suggest that (1) there is, in de toxified AWLD patients, an activation of the monocytic arm of cell-med iated immunity and a lowered anti-inflammatory capacity of the serum; and that (2) lower availability of plasma tryptophan to the brain in d etoxified AWLD patients is related to activation of the IRS. Lower CC1 6 may be one factor predisposing chronic alcoholic patients toward inf ectious disorders. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.