Journal article
Chronic alcohol consumption increases the severity of murine influenza virus infections
The Journal of immunology (1950), Vol.181(1), pp.641-648
07/01/2008
DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.181.1.641
PMCID: PMC2504736
PMID: 18566431
Abstract
Respiratory infections with both seasonal as well as potential pandemic Influenza viruses represent a significant burden on human health. Furthermore, viruses such as Influenza are increasingly recognized as important etiologic agents in community acquired pneumonia. Within the U.S. alone, approximately 12.9 million people are heavy drinkers and chronic abuse of alcohol is known to increase the risk and severity of community acquired pneumonia. Given the lack of knowledge regarding Influenza disease in this population, we determined the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on Influenza virus infection. Herein, we report that mice exposed to chronic ethanol have sharp increases in morbidity, mortality, and pulmonary virus titers relative to controls. These increases in influenza severity correspond with inhibited pulmonary influenza-specific CD8 T cell responses. Further, chronic ethanol consumption results in an enhanced pulmonary lesion severity, similar to that recently described for pandemic influenzas. Together, our results suggest that chronic alcohol consumption may increase the risk for severe influenza virus infections by altering the pulmonary inflammatory environment and CD8 T cell response.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Chronic alcohol consumption increases the severity of murine influenza virus infections
- Creators
- David K Meyerholz - Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAMichelle Edsen-MooreJodi McGillRuth A ColemanRobert T CookKevin L Legge
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of immunology (1950), Vol.181(1), pp.641-648
- DOI
- 10.4049/jimmunol.181.1.641
- PMID
- 18566431
- PMCID
- PMC2504736
- NLM abbreviation
- J Immunol
- ISSN
- 0022-1767
- eISSN
- 1550-6606
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- R01 AA014405-05 / NIAAA NIH HHS AA-014405 / NIAAA NIH HHS R01 AA014405 / NIAAA NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/01/2008
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Pathology
- Record Identifier
- 9984047715002771
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