Cytokines in detoxified patients with chronic alcoholism without liver disease: Increased monocytic cytokine production

Background: The nim of the present study was to examine the production of i nterferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), granulocyte-macro phage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-4 , IL-5, IL-l receptor antagonist (IL-IRA), and prostaglandin E-2 in relatio n to the number of leukocytes in the blood of detoxified, chronic alcoholic patients without apparent liver disease (AWLD). Methods: Phytohemagglutinin + lipopolysaccharide-induced production of the above variables as,tell as the number of white blood cells and differential s were determined in detoxified AWLD patients and normal volunteers. Results: Detoxified AWLD patients have a significantly higher production of IL-6, IL-IO, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, and IL-IRA and significantly increased num bers of leukocytes and neutrophils compared to normal volunteers. Conclusions: Detoxified AWLD patients show an increased production of proin flammatory cytokines, i.e., IL-6, TNF-alpha, and GM-CSF, as well as negativ e immunoregulatory proteins, such as IL-IO and IL-IRA. (C) 1999 Society of Biological Psyhchiatry.