A predominance of PMN-II and M2b monocytes in alcoholics (117.9)

Abstract

Abstract Alcoholics are well-known to be immunocompromised hosts, and are susceptible to various infections. To determine the properties of effector cells in host antibacterial innate immunities, in the present study the functions and subsets of neutrophils and monocytes in peripheral blood of alcoholics were characterized. It has been reported that IL-12(+) neutrophils (PMN-I) and IL-12(+)IL-10(-) monocytes (M1 monocytes) are major effector cells in antibacterial innate immunities, while CCL2(+) neutrophils (PMN-II) and IL-12(-)IL-10(+) monocytes (M2 monocytes) are inhibitory on the generation of antibacterial effector cells. Neutrophils and CD14(+) monocytes, isolated from 10 alcoholics by Ficoll-Hypaque/dextran sedimentations and magnetic beads, were adjusted to 1 x 106 cells/ml and stimulated with or without 0.0075% SAC for 18 hrs (neutrophils) or 48 hrs (monocytes). Culture fluids harvested were assayed for cytokines by ELISA. In the presence of SAC, CCL2 was produced by neutrophils from alcoholics, while IL-12 was not detected in culture fluids of these neutrophils. Healthy donor neutrophils stimulated with SAC produced IL-12 (but not IL-10). Also, IL-10 and CCL1 were produced by monocytes from alcoholics, while healthy donor monocytes produced IL-12 under the stimulation. CCL17 and CXCL13 were not produced by monocytes derived from alcoholics. These results indicate that alcoholics are carriers of PMN-II and M2b monocytes.