Influence of the level of dietary ethanol in mice with murine AIDS on resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Influence of the level of dietary ethanol in mice with murine AIDS on resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Alcohol Alcohol. 1992 Jul;27(4):345-52. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/93039023
Shahbazian LM; Darban HR; Darban JR; Stazzone AM; Watson RR; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of; Arizona, Tucson 85724.

Abstract: Chronic ethanol consumption impairs cellular immune functions. This may explain the increased occurrence of various opportunistic infections in heavy ethanol users. Immunological alterations associated with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) also permit more opportunistic infections. In this study, we used a murine model of retrovirus infection induced by LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus. The combined effects of ethanol use and early retroviral infection (prior to the development of AIDS) on resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae were investigated. Consumption of ethanol by non-retrovirus-infected mice resulted in decreased resistance to S. pneumoniae. However, retrovirus-infected mice fed a diet containing high concentrations of ethanol (6 and 7% v/v) exhibited a greater resistance to S. pneumoniae infection than retrovirus-infected mice fed diets with lower concentrations (5%) or no ethanol. The total number of white blood cells also decreased as serum ethanol levels increased. There were also fewer lymphocytes and more neutrophils and monocytes in retrovirus-infected mice fed ethanol. Diet consumption decreased as the concentration of ethanol increased in the diet. Consumption was dependent upon the dark-light cycle. The highest diet consumption was observed during the first 4 hr of the dark period. The level of ethanol in serum was influenced by the amount of the diet consumed and its ethanol concentration. Both retrovirus infection and ethanol consumption effected survival after S. pneumoniae infection.

Keywords: Alcohol Drinking/*IMMUNOLOGY Alcohol, Ethyl/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/PHARMACOKINETICS Animal Antibodies, Bacterial/*ANALYSIS AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*IMMUNOLOGY Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Female Leukocyte Count/DRUG EFFECTS Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*IMMUNOLOGY Pneumonia, Lobar/*IMMUNOLOGY Streptococcus pneumoniae/*IMMUNOLOGY Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. JOURNAL ARTICLE
930228
M9320844

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