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Int J Clin Exp Med 2011;4(4):252-257
Original Article
Altered gene expression in the spleen of adolescent rats following high ethanol
concentration binge drinking
Xiangqian Liu, Xin Mao, Sulie L Chang
Department of Histology and Embryology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, P.
R. China; Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA; Department of Biological
Sciences, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA
Received September 14, 2011; accepted September 21, 2011; Epub October 11, 2011; Published November 30, 2011
Abstract: Binge drinking of alcoholic beverages among adolescents is a common practice that can have serious health
consequences. Alcohol is a potent immunomodulator that alters a wide range of immune responses. However, it is unclear whether
there is a differential immune response to alcoholic beverages with a high versus low concentration of ethanol. In this study, we used
a PCR array containing 46 primer pairs of selected genes to compare mRNA expression in the spleen, an immune system organ, of
adolescent rats following binge drinking of alcohol solutions containing either 20% or 52% ethanol (v/v, 4.8 g/kg daily dosage), or water
(control) for 3 d. We found that, compared to the control, expression of IL-1, IL-6, CCL2, and GABAA receptor 2 subunit in the
spleen was decreased, and mGluR5 and 5-HT3A receptor expression was increased after drinking an alcohol solution containing 52%
ethanol, but not one with 20% ethanol. Our data suggest that alcohol-mediated immunomodulatory effects are, in part, dependent on
the relative concentration of ethanol in the alcoholic beverages consumed. This is the first study to show that exposure to a high
ethanol percentage alcoholic beverage can have more profound effects on immune responses than one with a low percentage of
ethanol. (IJCEM1109003).
Key words: Binge drinking, ethanol, adolescent rat spleen, PCR array
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Sulie L.Chang
Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ 07079, USA.
E-mail: sulie.chang@shu.edu
Original Article
Altered gene expression in the spleen of adolescent rats following high ethanol
concentration binge drinking
Xiangqian Liu, Xin Mao, Sulie L Chang
Department of Histology and Embryology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, P.
R. China; Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA; Department of Biological
Sciences, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA
Received September 14, 2011; accepted September 21, 2011; Epub October 11, 2011; Published November 30, 2011
Abstract: Binge drinking of alcoholic beverages among adolescents is a common practice that can have serious health
consequences. Alcohol is a potent immunomodulator that alters a wide range of immune responses. However, it is unclear whether
there is a differential immune response to alcoholic beverages with a high versus low concentration of ethanol. In this study, we used
a PCR array containing 46 primer pairs of selected genes to compare mRNA expression in the spleen, an immune system organ, of
adolescent rats following binge drinking of alcohol solutions containing either 20% or 52% ethanol (v/v, 4.8 g/kg daily dosage), or water
(control) for 3 d. We found that, compared to the control, expression of IL-1, IL-6, CCL2, and GABAA receptor 2 subunit in the
spleen was decreased, and mGluR5 and 5-HT3A receptor expression was increased after drinking an alcohol solution containing 52%
ethanol, but not one with 20% ethanol. Our data suggest that alcohol-mediated immunomodulatory effects are, in part, dependent on
the relative concentration of ethanol in the alcoholic beverages consumed. This is the first study to show that exposure to a high
ethanol percentage alcoholic beverage can have more profound effects on immune responses than one with a low percentage of
ethanol. (IJCEM1109003).
Key words: Binge drinking, ethanol, adolescent rat spleen, PCR array
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Sulie L.Chang
Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ 07079, USA.
E-mail: sulie.chang@shu.edu
