Ethanol inhibits production of messenger ribonucleic acid for kappa-chain in stimulated B lymphocytes
Aldo-Benson, M.; Kluve-Beckerman, B.; Hardwick, J.; Lockwood, M.
Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 119(1): 32-37
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-2143 PMID: 1727905 Document Number: 396742
Alcohol consumption can adversely affect an individual's response to infection. We have shown that alcohol has a direct suppressive effect on numbers of antibody-secreting cells in antigen-activated B lymphocytes but does not suppress the early membrane and intracellular events that are associated with binding of antigens to specific receptors. The studies reported here were designed to determine whether alcohol inhibits immunoglobulin synthesis. When 150 mg/dl ethanol was added to anti-mu-stimulated purified B cells, proliferation was inhibited. Similar exposure to ethanol inhibited production of messenger RNA for kappa chain in anti-mu-stimulated B cells but did not affect total RNA production or messenger RNA for beta-actin. Thus alcohol inhibits both the proliferation of antigen-activated B lymphocytes and their synthesis of immunoglobulin.