The effects of alcohol and cannabis abuse on TLR expression in airway epithelium

Introduction: Harmful alcohol use and cigarette smoking have been shown to alter pulmonary airway epithelial cell innate immunity. Increasingly, due to recent legislative changes, cannabis is being used in conjunction with alcohol. How cannabis affects pulmonary innate immunity alone and in conjunction with alcohol has not been fully described. Airway epithelial toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling plays a central role in coordinating the inflammatory response to inhaled pathogens. We have previously shown that those with alcohol use disorders (AUD ’s) have an upregulation in TLR2 in the airway epithelium that correlates with increased inflammatory cytokines in airway washings.
Source: Alcohol - Category: Addiction Authors: Source Type: research