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Review
. 2016 Feb 4:65:242-51.
doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2015.09.001. Epub 2015 Sep 14.

Opposing effects of alcohol on the immune system

Tasha Barr  1 , Christa Helms  2 , Kathleen Grant  2 , Ilhem Messaoudi  3
Affiliations
Review

Opposing effects of alcohol on the immune system

Tasha Barr et al. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Several studies have described a dose-dependent effect of alcohol on human health with light to moderate drinkers having a lower risk of all-cause mortality than abstainers, while heavy drinkers are at the highest risk. In the case of the immune system, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced inflammation and improved responses to vaccination, while chronic heavy drinking is associated with a decreased frequency of lymphocytes and increased risk of both bacterial and viral infections. However, the mechanisms by which alcohol exerts a dose-dependent effect on the immune system remain poorly understood due to a lack of systematic studies that examine the effect of multiple doses and different time courses. This review will summarize our current understanding of the impact of moderate versus excessive alcohol consumption on the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system derived from both in vitro as well as in vivo studies carried out in humans and animal model studies.

Keywords: Alcohol; Gene expression; Glucocorticoid; HPA axis; Immunity; Infection; Inflammation; Vaccination.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Opposing Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Immune Cells
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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