Is alcohol consumption a cofactor in the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome?

Yuejian Wang, Ronald R. Watson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Excessive alcohol (EtOH) consumption and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are two major public health problems in the United States. Overwhelming evidence is showing that heavy EtOH ingestion broadly suppresses the various arms of immune response, seriously impairing the body's normal host defense to invading microbes and tumorigenesis. The onset of clinical symptoms of AIDS (low CD4+ T cells count, opportunistic infections, and tumors) is quite variable among HIV' individuals with a mean incubation time 3-10 years following serocon version. Because of the deleterious effects of chronic EtOH consumption on Cyokine release, immune response, host defense, nutritional status, and oxidative stress, it has been believed to be a possible cofactor that could enhance the host's susceptibility to infections, and subsequently increase the rate of AIDS development. The purpose of this review is to present evidence indicating clinical disorders during EtOH ingestion in murine AIDS. These EtOH-induced abnormalities may promote a more rapid development of AIDS in HIV-infected individuals.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)105-109
Number of pages5
JournalAlcohol
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1995

Keywords

  • Alcohol
  • Cytokine
  • Host defense and AIDS
  • Immune response

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology
  • Neurology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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