Increased serum IgE in alcoholics: Relationship with Th1/Th2 cytokine production by stimulated blood mononuclear cells

Background: Increased serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E values are frequently fou nd in alcoholics. Cytokines produced by T-helper-2 (Th2) lymphocytes are re quired for IgE synthesis. Chronic alcoholism is associated with altered cyt okine balance. This study analyzed the relationship between Th1 and Th2 cyt okine production by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) a nd serum IgE levels, both in atopic and nonatopic alcoholics. Methods: Twenty-five patients admitted to the hospital with alcohol withdra wal syndrome were included in the study. Five were classified as atopic and 20 as nonatopic by means of skin-prick tests. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, IL-12 IL-13, and interferon gamma were measured in the supernatants of 48- hr cultures of PBMCs stimulated with phytohemagglutinin. Total serum IgE wa s measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. Results were compared wi th those of 15 healthy controls (seven atopics and eight nonatopics). Results: Total serum IgE concentrations were higher in alcoholics than in c ontrols, in both atopic and nonatopic subjects. The ratio of IL-4 to interf eron gamma production by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBMCs (as an approac h to Th2,/Th1 balance) was significantly lower in alcoholics than in health y controls, both in the atopic and in the nonatopic group, No difference wa s observed regarding IL-10, IL-12, and IL-13 production between alcoholics and controls. No correlation was demonstrated between cytokine production a nd total serum IgE levels in any group. Conclusions: Increased total serum IgE is observed in alcoholics together w ith a paradoxically low ratio of Th2 to Th1 cytokine production by phytohem agglutinin-stimulated PBMCs. These findings are independent of the atopic s tatus of patients.