Cerebrospinal Fluid Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein‐1 in Alcoholics: Support for a Neuroinflammatory Model of Chronic Alcoholism. (1st April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Umhau, John C.; Schwandt, Melanie; Solomon, Matthew G.; Yuan, Peixiong; Nugent, Allison; Zarate, Carlos A.; Drevets, Wayne C.; Hall, Samuel D.; George, David T.; Heilig, Markus
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 38:Number 5(2014:May)
• Page Start: 1301
• Page End: 1306
• Publication Date: 2014-04-01
• Subjects: Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.12367
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="acer12367-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acer12367-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Liver inflammation in alcoholism has been hypothesized to influence the development of a neuroinflammatory process in the brain characterized by neurodegeneration and altered cognitive function. Monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1/chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 2 (MCP‐1/CCL2) elevations have been noted in the alcoholic brain at autopsy and may have a role in this process.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12367-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We studied cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of MCP‐1 as well as interleukin‐1<italic>β</italic> and tumor necrosis factor‐<italic>α</italic> in 13 healthy volunteers and 28 alcoholics during weeks 1 and 4 following detoxification. Serum liver enzymes were obtained as markers of alcohol‐related liver inflammation.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12367-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Compared to healthy volunteers, MCP‐1 levels were significantly higher in alcoholics both on day 4 and day 25 (<italic>p</italic> < 0.0001). Using multiple regression analysis, we found that MCP‐1 concentrations were positively associated with the liver enzymes gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT;<italic> p</italic> = 0.03) and aspartate aminotransferase/glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST/GOT; <italic>p</italic> = 0.004).</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12367-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>These preliminary findings are consistent with the hypothesis that neuroinflammation as indexed by CSF MCP‐1 is associated with alcohol‐induced liver inflammation, as defined by peripheral concentrations of GGT and AST/GOT.</p> </sec> </abstract>