New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte
Biology suggests that increased sensitivity to
infection in related to chronic alcohol consumption
is due to defective host defense responses and
treatment with IL-17 prevent this in mice.
Alcoholism takes a toll on every aspect of a
person's life, including skin problems. Now, a new
research report appearing in the April 2015 issue of
the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, helps explain why
this happens and what might be done to address it.
In the report, researchers used mice to show how
chronic alcohol intake compromises the skin's
protective immune response. They also were able to
show how certain interventions may improve the
skin's immune response. Ultimately, the hope is that
this research could aid in the development of
immune-based therapies to combat skin infection in
people who chronically consume alcohol.
"The clinical association between alcoholism and
severe skin infection is well established," said
Corey P. Parlet, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the
work from the Department of Pathology at the
University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa
City, Iowa. "The ability to experimentally model
skin immune deficiencies that occur in chronic
alcoholics opens up new avenues to test immune-based
therapies to better protect this population and
thereby limit the spread of infectious disease to
the broader community as well."
To make their discovery, scientists administered
either drinking water consisting of a 20 percent
ethanol/water solution or plain water. After 12
weeks on this fluid regimen, with a regular solid
food diet, infection outcomes and host defense
responses were assessed in mice that were given a
skin infection with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
They found that ethanol-consuming mice demonstrated
increased illness, including greater weight loss,
larger skin lesions and increased bacterial burden.
The exacerbation of clinical disease corresponded
with an inability to maintain immune cell numbers
and activity at the site of infection, especially
neutrophils, which are required to heal the
infection.
Interleukin-17 normally promotes the entry of
neutrophils into the skin and their function there.
This molecule was reduced in the skin of
ethanol-consuming mice. By restoring IL-17 levels,
the skin injury in mice was reduced and bacterial
clearance defects were improved.
"Co-morbidities associated with chronic alcohol
consumption often receive less research attention,
yet have significant impact on overall quality of
life, healthcare costs and potential infectious
disease transmission," said John Wherry, Ph.D.,
Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
"These new studies, together with greater
understanding of how to clinically manipulate IL-17
mediated immune responses may lead to new treatment
opportunities for alcoholism-associated skin
infections."
For more information
The Journal of Leukocyte Biology
Corey P. Parlet, Jeffrey S. Kavanaugh, Alexander R.
Horswill, and Annette J. Schlueter.
Chronic ethanol feeding increases the severity of
Staphylococcus aureus skin infections by altering
local host defenses.
J. Leukoc. Biol April 2015 97:769-778;
doi:10.1189/jlb.4A0214-092R.
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