Effects of ethanol on human monocyte/macrophage lysozyme storage and release: Implications for the pathobiology of alcoholic liver disease

• Published in: Journal of hepatology Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 90 - 98
• Main Authors: McCarthy, S.P., Lewis, C.E., McGee, J.O'D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 1990
• Subjects: Cell Separation; Cells, Cultured; Ethanol - pharmacology; Hemolytic Plaque Technique; Humans; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - pathology; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - physiopathology; Macrophages - enzymology; Monocytes - enzymology; Muramidase - metabolism
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/0168-8278(90)90078-6

The effect of ethanol on the release and/or intracellular accumulation of lysozyme (LZM) by human monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (mø) was investigated in vitro. A reverse haemolytic plaque assay, to detect and quantify LZM release by individual cells was combined with quantitative immunocytochemistry using LZM and the pan-macrophage monoclonal EBM/11 as markers. Ethanol had no effect on monocytes; however it reduced secretion of LZM by a mø subpopulation. Ethanol also reduced both the total number of mø immunoreactive for LZM, (but not EBM/11), and the proportion of LZM-secreting mø containing detectable LZM. The latter was correlated with an increase in the proportion of LZM-secreting mø that were not immunoreactive for this enzyme. These data suggest functional heterogeneity amongst human macrophages with a mø subpopulation which responds to ethanol exposure with a drop in both content and release of LZM. This might have implications for macrophage function in alcoholic liver disease.