Chronic heavy drinking drives distinct transcriptional and epigenetic changes in splenic macrophages.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic heavy alcohol drinking (CHD) leads to significant organ damage, increased susceptibility to infections, and delayed wound healing. These adverse outcomes are believed to be mediated by alterations in the function of myeloid cells; however, the mechanisms underlying these changes are poorly understood.

Methods

We determined the impact of CHD on the phenotype of splenic macrophages using flow cytometry. Changes in functional responses to LPS were measured using luminex and RNA-Seq. Finally, alterations in chromatin accessibility were uncovered using ATAC-Seq.

Findings

A history of CHD led to increased frequency of splenic macrophages that exhibited a heightened activation state at resting. Additionally, splenic macrophages from CHD animals generated a

SUBMITTER: Sureshchandra S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6557917 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature