Aliphatic alcohols of illegally produced spirits can act synergistically on superoxide-anion production by human granulocytes

Abstract

Context: Aliphatic alcohols present in illegally produced spirits in a large number of low and middle income countries have been implicated in the etiology of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Previous studies have confirmed that chronic alcoholism can lead to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Reduced superoxide-anion (O₂·⁻) production by granulocytes could provide a mechanism by which antimicrobial defense is impaired in alcoholics. In vitro experiments have also demonstrated that ethanol can inhibit granulocyte O₂·⁻ generation. Aliphatic alcohols consumed as contaminants of illicit spirits may also influence O₂·⁻ production thereby contributing to a decrease in microbicidal activity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate this possibility. It measured the O₂·⁻ production by human granulocytes following treatment of the cells with aliphatic alcohol contaminants found in illicit spirits.

Materials and methods: Granulocytes were isolated from human buffy coats with centrifugal elutriation and then treated with individual aliphatic alcohols and their mixture. The O₂·⁻ production was stimulated with phorbol-12-13-dibutyrate and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and measured by superoxide dismutase inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c.

Results: Aliphatic alcohols of illegally produced spirits inhibited the FMLP-induced O₂·⁻ production in a concentration dependent manner. They suppressed O₂·⁻ generation at 2.5–40 times lower concentrations when combined than when tested individually.

Discussion and conclusion: Aliphatic alcohols found in illegally produced spirits can inhibit FMLP-induced O₂·⁻ production by granulocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. Due to their synergistic effects, it is possible that, in combination with ethanol, they may inhibit O₂·⁻ formation in heavy episodic drinkers.

Keywords::

• Illicit spirit consumption
• higher alcohols
• antimicrobial defense
• polymorphonuclear leukocytes
• free radical generation

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Mrs. Mariann Kovács for the excellent technical assistance. Ervin M. Árnyas and László Pál contributed equally and share the first authorship.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declaration 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).

ERRATUM

[DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2012.663387 published online 2 March 2012] The iFirst version of this article published online ahead of print on 2 March 2012 contained errors in Table 1 on page 5. The corrected version is shown in this issue.