It’s not just heavy drinkers who face the consequences; research suggests that drinking just a few alcoholic beverages can weaken our defenses against illness. Alcoholics and laboratory animals chronically ingesting alcohol have lower-than-normal numbers of all subpopulations of T cells in the blood, in the thymus—the gland where T cells mature—and in the spleen, where immune reactions are initiated. The mechanism underlying the alcohol-induced decrease in T-cell numbers still is unknown. Some researchers have suggested that acute alcohol exposure induces programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in immature T cells in the thymus.
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Acute alcohol exposure also results in increased apoptosis of mature lymphocytes and monocytes in the blood. The first phase is an inflammatory reaction, which protects the body from the immediate effects of the infection. The inflammatory response primarily involves phagocytic cells that help eliminate the pathogen, cytokines secreted mainly by these phagocytes, and other molecules (e.g., oxygen radicals) that assist in killing the pathogen. The second phase, the development of immunity to the pathogen, is mediated by T cells and B cells. Several epidemiological studies what is alcoholism showed that alcohol abuse is the most significant reason for several pulmonary infections, particularly of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, owing to alcohol-altered host immune response against infection 43.
STAT3 plays a dual role in inflammation, promoting both protective and pathogenic responses. Alcohol enhances STAT3 phosphorylation, increasing IL-6 production, which can drive chronic inflammation when dysregulated. At the same time, alcohol impairs STAT1 activation, which is necessary for resolving inflammatory responses.
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In rats that received alcohol infusions for 1, 3, or 5 hours, for example, the Kupffer cells in the liver produced and secreted increased levels of superoxide anions, whether or not the cells were activated by contact with pathogens. Together, these observations imply that alcohol may have a dual negative effect on the body’s oxygen-radical production. First, alcohol may inhibit oxygen-radical and nitric oxide production in macrophages in the lung, where these substances are essential for killing microorganisms. Second, alcohol may increase oxygen-radical production in the liver, where these molecules may cause tissue damage. Monocytes and macrophages produce numerous substances that initiate and regulate inflammatory reactions; attract other immune cells (i.e., chemokines); stimulate T cells; help in the elimination of pathogens, such as bacteria; and perform other functions throughout the body.
Drinking impairs immune cells in key organs
Corticosterone is the main glucocorticoid involved in the regulation of stress responses in rodents (Smith and Vale 2006). However, similarly to the in vitro studies described above, at 2 and 5 hours post-binge the numbers of circulating monocytes were reduced and levels of antiinflammatory IL-10 levels were increased (Afshar, Richards et al. 2014). Acetaldehyde is the toxic byproduct that contributes to tissue damage, alcohol dependence, and addiction (Zakhari 2006). It can also bind to other proteins to form adducts, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and MDA-acetaldehyde (MAA), which play a key role in the development of liver injury and stimulate antibody responses that further promote liver inflammation and fibrosis (Tuma and Casey 2003).
Persistent alcohol use elevates the risk of cardiovascular diseases, weakens cell-mediated immunity, and increases the risk of infections. When you quit drinking, the immune system begins to recover and improve its functionality. Initially, reducing alcohol intake allows the immune system to start repairing itself, restoring the balance of immune cells, and reducing inflammation. Over time, the body becomes more effective at fighting infections and managing autoimmune responses.
- While occasional drinking may have temporary effects, chronic alcohol consumption can lead to more severe and lasting damage to the immune system.
- Weakened immunity from drugs or alcohol makes it harder for the body to defend itself against harmful bacteria and viruses.
- This shift in the microbiome can further complicate the immune system’s ability to distinguish between self and non-self, contributing to the development of autoimmune diseases.
Eventually, you can develop permanent and irreversible scarring in your liver, which is called cirrhosis. Heavy drinking can also lead to a host of health concerns, like brain damage, heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver and even certain kinds of cancer. To this end, heavy drinkers have been shown how does alcohol affect the immune system to exhibit an increase in both IgA and IgM levels when compared to both moderate and light male drinkers. “When you’re feeling run down or like you might get sick, you want to be well hydrated so that all the cells in your body have enough fluid in them and can work really well,” Favini says. Overall, avoid drinking more than moderate amounts if you want your immune system in good shape, says Favini.
Short-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Immune System
Adachi et al. reported that the deletion of KCs in the liver prevents the development of liver disease in an alcohol-induced liver disease model 26. Overall, the effects of both acute and chronic alcohol exposure result in a weakened cell-mediated immune response. Several diseases are characterized by a reduction in the cell-mediated immunity and a concomitant increase in the humoral immunity. This shift in the immune response likely impairs the body’s defense against bacterial infections requiring a predominantly cell-mediated immune response, such as infections with M. Tuberculosis or Listeria monocytogenes, which are discussed in the section “Consequences of Alcohol’s Effects on the Immune System.” Alcohol’s effects on the antibody-producing B cells is discussed in more detail in the following section.
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Additionally, the role of alcohol-induced changes in the microbiome on immunity should be studied. Recent studies have shown that the microbiome modulates immunity in the gut, and in turn, immunity modulates the microbiome in the gut (Belkaid and Hand 2014). Only two studies have examined alcohol-induced changes in colonic (Mutlu, Gillevet et al. 2012) and fecal microbiomes (Chen, Yang et al. 2011), and both studies focused on individuals with AUD. It is also critical to take into consideration that the effects of ethanol on immune function in vivo could involve the actions of its primary metabolite, acetaldehyde.
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In the following section, we will delineate the known alcohol dose-dependent effects on autoimmune diseases. Research has shown that alcohol can cause an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Elevated levels of these pro-inflammatory cytokines can contribute to chronic inflammation and tissue damage. On the other hand, alcohol can also inhibit the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-10 (IL-10), which are essential for regulating the immune response and resolving inflammation.
What Happens in the Body When Alcohol Disrupts Immunity
Moreover, immune systems of several nonhuman primate species are similar to those of humans and these animals are susceptible to several clinically important pathogens making them a valuable model to study the impact of ethanol on immunity (Hein and Griebel 2003). Costly requirements such as dedicated facilities to house the animals, experienced personnel to perform specialized procedures, and compliance with high standards of care must be considered. Decreased IL-2 and CCL5 levels provide insight into possible mechanisms of impaired T cell recruitment and proliferation. Increases in IL-7 and IL-15, which are critical for T cell survival, may be compensatory mechanisms for reduced IL-2 levels. Reduced IgE levels were also observed and may be related to the observed decrease in IgE synthesis regulators, IL-13 and CD40 ligand.
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In addition, oxidation of ethanol by CYP2E1 leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Elevated levels of ROS cause oxidative stress which has been shown to play a role in several harmful processes including cancer development, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and inflammation (Tuma and Casey 2003). Alcohol also interferes with the function of regulatory T cells, whose role is to prevent the immune system from mistakenly attacking the body’s own cells. This disruption in immune system regulation, coupled with heightened inflammation, creates an environment conducive to the development or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases as the body’s immune https://ecosoberhouse.com/ defenses turn against its own tissues. Various types of Igs (e.g., IgA, IgG, IgM) are produced at different times during an infection or in response to a range of antigens that have specific roles in the adaptive immune response.
