Leptin and cellular and innate immunity in abstinent alcoholics and controls.
Title | Leptin and cellular and innate immunity in abstinent alcoholics and controls. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2003 |
Authors | Motivala SJ, Dang J, Obradovic T, Meadows GG, Butch AW, Irwin MR |
Journal | Alcohol Clin Exp Res |
Volume | 27 |
Issue | 11 |
Pagination | 1819-24 |
Date Published | 2003 Nov |
ISSN | 0145-6008 |
Keywords | Adult, Alcoholism, Analysis of Variance, Humans, Immunity, Cellular, Leptin, Male, Middle Aged, Temperance |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Basic studies indicate that in vitro and in vivo doses of leptin modulate cellular immune responses. Given evidence that concentrations of leptin are altered in alcoholics who also show immune abnormalities, this study examined the relationships between circulating levels of leptin and markers of cellular and innate immunity. METHODS: Circulating levels of leptin, natural killer cell (NK) activity, interleukin-2 (IL-2)-stimulated NK activity, and concanavalin A-stimulated production of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12 were compared between abstinent DSM-IV alcohol-dependent men (n = 27) and age- and gender-matched controls (n = 34). RESULTS: As compared with controls, alcoholics showed lower NK activity (p < 0.01) and a trend for lower levels of leptin (p = 0.055). In the total sample, leptin predicted NK activity (beta = 0.33; p < 0.05) after controlling for the confounding influence of body mass index, alcohol intake, and smoking. Leptin was not correlated with any of the cytokine measures. To examine whether the effects of leptin were mediated by its direct action on NK, additional studies examined in vitro effects of leptin on NK activity in healthy volunteers (n = 10); leptin doses (0.1, 1, and 10 nM) yielded levels of NK activity comparable to those with media alone. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that circulating levels of leptin are associated with NK activity in humans and suggest that abnormal in vivo concentrations of leptin may contribute to the declines of NK activity in alcoholics who are at risk for infectious diseases. |
DOI | 10.1097/01.ALC.0000093741.21492.02 |
Alternate Journal | Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. |
PubMed ID | 14634499 |
Grant List | AA07293 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States AA10215 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States AA13239 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States AG18367 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States AR/AG41867 / AR / NIAMS NIH HHS / United States AT00255 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States MH55253 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States T32 AA07557 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States T32 MH17140 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States |