Ethanol inhibits lipid raft-mediated TCR signaling and IL-2 expression: potential mechanism of alcohol-induced immune suppression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alcohol abuse has long-term deleterious effects on the immune system, and results in a depletion and loss of function of CD4(+) T lymphocytes, which regulate both innate and adaptive immunity. T-lymphocyte activation via T-cell receptor (TCR) involves the lipid raft colocalization and aggregation of proteins into the immunological signalosome, which triggers a signaling cascade resulting in the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2). IL-2 regulates the proliferation and clonal expansion of activated T cells and is essential for an effective immune response. The present work examines the mechanisms underlying ethanol-induced dysfunction of CD4(+) T lymphocytes based on the hypothesis that ethanol downregulates lipid raft-mediated TCR signal transduction and resultant IL-2 pro

SUBMITTER: Ghare S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3143276 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature