The immunomodulatory capacity of acute, moderate alcohol consumption w
as investigated in this study in nonalcoholic volunteers after 2 ml of
vodka/kg body weight of alcohol consumption. There was a significant,
transient increase in interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN gamma)
levels in whole blood samples collected 4 hr after alcohol consumptio
n in response to an ex vivo bacterial challenge with lipopolysaccharid
e (p < 0.02). However, decreased IFN gamma levels were produced by mon
onuclear cells collected later after alcohol consumption (16 hr), sugg
esting that acute alcohol consumption has a biphasic effect on IFN gam
ma inducibility. Furthermore, isolated blood monocytes collected 16 hr
after alcohol consumption showed significantly decreased IL-1 beta pr
oduction in response to subsequent bacterial stimulation, implying tha
t in vivo alcohol consumption affects monocyte-derived inflammatory cy
tokine production. These results demonstrate that even acute, moderate
alcohol consumption has a modulating capacity on immune functions tha
t may contribute to decreased immunity and host defense.