Effects of Ethanol on Immune Response in the Brain: Region‐Specific Changes in Adolescent Versus Adult Mice. (22nd August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kane, Cynthia J. M.; Phelan, Kevin D.; Douglas, James C.; Wagoner, Gail; Johnson, Jennifer W.; Xu, Jihong; Phelan, Patrick S.; Drew, Paul D.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 38:Number 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 384
• Page End: 391
• Publication Date: 2013-08-22
• Subjects: Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.12244
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="acer12244-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acer12244-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Alcohol use occurs across the life span beginning in adolescence and continuing through adulthood. Ethanol (EtOH)‐induced pathology varies with age and includes changes in neurogenesis, neurodegeneration, and glial cell activation. EtOH‐induced changes in glial activation and immune activity are believed to contribute to EtOH‐induced neuropathology. Recent studies indicate an emerging role of glial‐derived neuroimmune molecules in alcohol abuse and addiction.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12244-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Adolescent and adult C57BL/6 mice were treated via gavage with 6 g/kg EtOH for 10 days, and tissue was harvested 1 day post treatment. We compared the effects of EtOH on chemokine and cytokine expression and astrocyte glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunostaining and morphology in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12244-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>EtOH increased mRNA levels of the chemokine CCL2/MCP‐1 in all 3 regions of adult mice relative to controls. The cytokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) was selectively increased only in the adult cerebellum. EtOH did not affect mRNA levels of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) in any of these brain regions in adult animals. Interestingly, CCL2, IL‐6, and TNF‐α mRNA levels were not increased in the hippocampus, cerebellum, or cortex of adolescent mice. EtOH treatment of adult and adolescent mice resulted in increased GFAP immunostaining.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12244-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Collectively, these data indicate an age‐ and region‐specific susceptibility to EtOH regulation of neuroinflammatory and addiction‐related molecules as well as astrocyte phenotype. These studies may have important implications concerning differential alcohol‐induced neuropathology and alcohol addiction across the life span.</p> </sec> </abstract>