Evidence for alcohol-mediated hemolysis and erythrophagocytosis.

ABSTRACT: Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is the most common liver disease worldwide; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identify ethanol-mediated hemolysis and erythrophagocytosis as major contributors to ALD pathogenesis using both in vitro and in vivo models, as well as surrogate markers such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and CD163, a scavenger receptor for hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. A key initial observation was the direct optical evidence of serum hemolysis in heavy drinkers, which diminished after one week of alcohol withdrawal. In parallel, soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels declined during alcohol detoxification correlating with liver damage and fibrosis stages. Moreover, red blood cells (RBCs) from heavy drinkers exhibited increased fragility

SUBMITTER: Zheng C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12268204 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature