Aliphatic alcohols in spirits inhibit phagocytosis by human monocytes

Abstract

A large volume of alcoholic beverages containing aliphatic alcohols is consumed worldwide. Previous studies have confirmed the presence of ethanol-induced immunosuppression in heavy drinkers, thereby increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases. However, the aliphatic alcohols contained in alcoholic beverages might also impair immune cell function, thereby contributing to a further decrease in microbicidal activity. Previous research has shown that aliphatic alcohols inhibit phagocytosis by granulocytes but their effect on human monocytes has not been studied. This is important as they play a crucial role in engulfment and killing of pathogenic microorganisms and a decrease in their phagocytic activity could lead to impaired antimicrobial defence in heavy drinkers. The aim of this study was to measure monocyte phagocytosis following their treatment with those aliphatic alcohols detected in alcoholic beverages. Monocytes were separated from human peripheral blood and phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan particles by monocytes treated with ethanol and aliphatic alcohols individually and in combination was determined. It was shown that these alcohols could suppress the phagocytic activity of monocytes in a concentration-dependent manner and when combined with ethanol, they caused a further decrease in phagocytosis. Due to their additive effects, it is possible that they may inhibit phagocytosis in a clinically meaningful way in alcoholics and episodic heavy drinkers thereby contribute to their increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. However, further research is needed to address this question.

• Aliphatic alcohols
• infectious diseases
• unrecorded alcohol consumption
• monocytes
• phagocytosis

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mrs. Mariann Kovács for the excellent technical assistance and Association of Hungarian PhD students for permission to present Figures 2–6.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. This work was supported by the National Development Agency (Contract no. TÁMOP 4.2.2./B-10/1-2010-0024, TÁMOP 4.2.1./B-09/1/KONV-2010-0007), TÁMOP-4.2.2.A-11/1/KONV-2012-0031, and Ministry of National Resources (Contract no. 1EVJ 1NB0 EGPL 320). The project was co-financed by the European Union and the European Social Fund.