Effects of chronic alcohol abuse on duodenal mononuclear cells in man

The aim of this study was to investigate whether chronic alcohol abuse alte rs the number and distribution of mononuclear cells of the duodenal mucosa. The number of common leukocyte antigen (CLA)-positive interepithelial lymp hocytes (IEL), B lymphocytes (BL), IgA-producing plasma cells (IgA-PC), and macrophages (MP) was quantitatively evaluated in biopsies of the duodenal mucosa of patients with alcohol abuse compared to subjects without alcohol abuse. Biopsies from the descending part of the duodenum were obtained by e ndoscopy from two groups of patients with chronic alcohol abuse (group Al, abstinence <5 days, N = 21) and group A2 abstaining 5-10 days (N = 6). Twen ty-five subjects without alcohol abuse served as controls (C). Immunohistoc hemical staining was done by avidin-biotin-complex method. In addition, the content of IgA in the plasma cells was determined by using a TV-densitomet ric method. The number of B-lymphocytes in the lamina propria was increased by 37% in group A1 (P < 0.005). A distinct decrease was observed in group Al compared to C in the number of IEL that were CLA positive (-50%, P < 0.0 25) and in the number of macrophages (-54%, P < 0.025). In group A2 the dif ferences in the number of B lymphocytes and macrophages were no longer seen . In Al, there was no significant change in the number of IgA-producing pla sma cells or in the number of interepithelial lymphocytes counted after H&E staining compared to the controls. There was no difference in content of I gA in the IgA-producing plasma cells. From these results it is concluded th at chronic alcohol abuse significantly influences the gut-associated immune system, possibly by increasing the permeability of the gut mucosa to macro molecules that act as antigens.