Research
- Immunodeficiency of Alcohol Abuse
Robert T. Cook, M.D., Ph.D.
- Professor
- Laboratory: 1157 ML
- 319-335-6639
- Chronic alcohol abuse results in immunodeficiency, manifestations of autoimmunity, and a significant increase in serious infectious disease, in addition to the other better known complications. The work in this laboratory is part of a long-term strategy to define the alterations leading to the immunodeficiency and autoimmunity of the alcoholic. We and others have demonstrated that chronic alcoholics have 1) persistently activated lymphocytes, 2) lymphocyte subset loss, 3) monocyte activation, and 4) functional changes in vivo and in vitro.
We utilize peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes from alcoholic patients, and evaluate the above parameters by flow cytometry, cell culture, and a range of standard immunologic functional measures. Current results show that human alcoholics have major shifts in cell activation and differentiation markers, some of which are reversible after withdrawal. We model these changes in murine strains using TH1-dominant, TH2-dominant, and specific gene-deficient mouse strains, to permit controlled investigation of alcohol-induced skewing of cytokine patterns, monocyte and T-cell activation and interactions, loss of specific functional subsets, and T cell and innate immune responses to infectious agents such as the bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes. The general results of these studies are of interest in understanding mechanisms of both immunodeficiency and autoimmunity in the chronic alcoholic, and will contribute to more effective interventions in infectious disease and in autoimmune complications such as may contribute to the pathogenesis of acute alcoholic hepatitis.
RESEARCH STAFF
Nancy Ray, Ph.D.
nancy-ray@uiowa.edu
Assistant Research Scientist
1157 ML
319-335-6639
Ruth A. Coleman, B.S., M.T. (ASCP)
ruth-coleman@uiowa.edu
RA III
1157 ML
319-335-6639
Ling Hu, M.S.
ling-hu@uiowa.edu
RAII
1157 ML
319-335-6639
Lucas Turner, B.S.
lucas-turner@uiowa.edu
RAII
1157 ML
319-335-6639
Susan Wiechert, B.A.
susan-wiechert@uiowa.edu
RAII
1157 ML
319-335-6639
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