mM Of Alcohol Research Articles

Alcohol Exposure Impacts the Composition of HeLa-Derived Extracellular Vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles are nanosized vesicles that are under intense investigation for their role in intercellular communication. Extracellular vesicles have begun to be examined for their role in disease protection and their role as disease biomarkers and/or vaccine agents. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of alcohol exposure on the biogenesis and composition of extracellular vesicles derived from the cervical cancer line, HeLa. The HeLa cells were cultured in exosome-free media and were either mock-treated (control) or treated with 50 mM or 100 mM of alcohol for 24 h and 48 h. Our results demonstrated that alcohol significantly impacts HeLa cell viability and exosome biogenesis/composition. Importantly, our studies demonstrate the critical role of alcohol on HeLa cells, as well as HeLa-derived extracellular vesicle biogenesis and composition. Specifically, these results indicate that alcohol alters extracellular vesicles’ packaging of heat shock proteins and apoptotic proteins. Extracellular vesicles serve as communicators for HeLa cells, as well as biomarkers for the initiation and progression of disease.

Alcohol Modulates the Biogenesis and Composition of Microglia-Derived Exosomes.

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that have emerged as an important tool for intercellular communication. In the central nervous system, exosomes can mediate glia and neuronal communication. Once released from the donor cell, exosomes can act as discrete vesicles and travel to distant and proximal recipient cells to alter cellular function. Microglia cells secrete exosomes due to stress stimuli of alcohol abuse. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of alcohol exposure on the biogenesis and composition of exosomes derived from microglia cell line BV-2. The BV-2 cells were cultured in exosome-free media and were either mock treated (control) or treated with 50 mM or 100 mM of alcohol for 48 and 72 h. Our results demonstrated that alcohol significantly impacted BV-2 cell morphology, viability, and protein content. Most importantly, our studies revealed that exosome biogenesis and composition was affected by alcohol treatment.

Amperometric enzyme electrodes for the determination of volatile alcohols in the headspace above fruit and vegetable juices

We have investigated two amperometric biosensors for the determination of volatile alcohols in the headspace of fruit juices and vegetable juices. One type of sensor is based on the use of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and the detection of NADH (at +300 mV vs. Ag/AgCl with phenothiazine as redox mediator), and the other on the use of alcohol oxidase (AOx) and the detection of hydrogen peroxide (at +600 mV vs. Ag/AgCl). Samples were analyzed with the AOx-based biosensor by measuring the alcohol concentration in the headspace above the liquid without prior sorption or pre-concentration. The sensor has a linear response in the range 0.1–20.0 mM of alcohol (referred to the concentration in the liquid sample). It has excellent stability in that the signal decreases by 4.5 % only over a 60 h operational period. However, a comparison of the AOx-based biosensor with HPLC and an enzyme test kit revealed an overestimation of ethanol levels in juices by the biosensor due to the simultaneous detection of methanol present in the samples. A flow-through version of the biosensor placed at the exit of a HPLC system proved this assumption. In order to improve the specificity for ethanol, the ADH-based sensor was studied. While showing no cross sensitivity to methanol, its stability was rather limited, this making it not suitable for practical applications. Headspace analysis offers advantages such as high selectivity (because it can be interfered by volatile substances only) and the lack of contamination of the sensor by species in the liquid juice.

Alcohol affects the late differentiation of progenitor B cells.

Previous studies show that alcohol exposure can affect the differentiation of progenitor B cells. Before final commitment to a B lineage, progenitor B cells usually undergo several important stages. However, it is still unclear whether alcohol alters B cell differentiation at which stages. The aim of this study was to determine which stage(s) of progenitor cell differentiation are affected by alcohol and to elucidate the mechanism(s) responsible for the effect of alcohol on B cell differentiation. Oligoclonal-neonatal-progenitor (ONP) cells from bone marrow cells of 2-week-old mice were cultured under different conditions in vitro with or without the exposure of 100 mM alcohol. Phenotype analysis was performed at different time points and expression levels of transcription factors (TFs) and cytokine receptors were measured quantitatively and kinetically. After 3 days in vitro culture, ONP cells differentiated into two populations: B220(-)CD11b(-) and B220(-)CD11b(+) cells. B220(-)CD11b(-) cells can further differentiate into B lineage cells only with the support of B220(-)CD11b(+) cells. Cells exposed to 100 mM of alcohol during the first 3 days of culture showed no statistically significant difference in B cell formation after 12 days compared with the control group. However, cells exposed to alcohol from Day 4 till the end of culture yield very few B cells. Expression levels of TFs and cytokine receptors were down-regulated kinetically among ONP cells co-cultured with the addition of 100 mM alcohol. Alcohol affects the ONP cell differentiation into B lineage at a late stage. Alcohol also down-regulates the expression level of TFs and cytokine receptors resulting in the impairment of B cell differentiation.

Markers of fibrogenesis and basement membrane formation in alcoholic liver disease: Relation to severity, presence of hepatitis, and alcohol intake

This study investigated the relationships of the serum markers of fibrogenesis and basement membrane formation to the clinical and morphological severity of alcoholic liver disease and to the degree of alcohol abuse. The concentrations of the aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen, type IV collagen, and laminin were measured from 87 samples representing a wide range of clinical and histological severities of the disease, which were assessed with indices that have been shown to correlate well with the risk of dying within 1 yr. Significant correlations (p < 0.00001) were found between the markers of connective tissue metabolism and the Combined Clinical and Laboratory Index: (aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen, rs = 0.82; type IV collagen, rs = 0.82; laminin, rs = 0.81), as well as between these markers and the Combined Morphological Index: (aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen, rs = 0.70; type IV collagen, rs = 0.68; laminin, rs = 0.64). Whereas the patients with less than 8 mM of alcohol in their morning urine (mild or moderate drinkers) showed a significant (p < 0.00001) decrease in these markers in a period of 27 ± 1 wk, the patients with more than 8 mM of urinary alcohol (heavy drinkers) had no improvement. It is proposed that both fibrogenesis and basement membrane formation are associated with disease severity, degree of alcoholic hepatitis, and alcohol intake, which are important determinants of prognosis in alcoholic liver disease.