Long-term alcohol exposure impairs allogeneic heterotopic heart transplant rejection in a mouse model

Various reports have demonstrated chronic alcohol consumption results in an immunosuppressed state that increases susceptibility to infections. Researchers have also shown that long-term alcohol consumption impairs the innate, and adaptive immune responses, although the underlying mechanism involved in disrupting the T cell compartment remains unanswered. We hypothesized that chronic alcohol consumption leads to premature aging of T cells, which impairs T cell function. To test this hypothesis, an allogeneic heterotopic heart transplantation system was used, whereby C57BL/6 and B6-(Cg)-Tyrc-2J/J (B6.Albino) mice were fed water or 20% ethanol for 16 weeks prior to transplantation.

Source: Alcohol - March 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: T. Cisneros, X. Qu, D. Dillard, C. Esquivel, S. Krams, O. Martinez Source Type: research