Alcoholism Cause of Inflammation and Cytokines

Sunday, March 15th, 2009 at 10:32 am

When the tissue of any organ gets damaged or infected this results in the response of the body in the
form of inflammation. The role of inflammation is to control the spreading of the disease in order to get the mechanism of defence or the immune system of the body in order.

Free radicals are also generated as a defence mechanism. These radicals destroy the micro organisms
which cause diseases. If alcohol is consumed in excess over a long period of time, free radicals are
produced in excess resulting in the destruction of healthy tissues of the liver.

The intestine of the human being also contains a certain type of bacteria which aids in initiating ALD.
When a person consumes alcohol excessively, endotoxin, a bacterial product passes into the blood
stream through the walls of the intestine. When this reaches the liver, Kupffer cells which are specialized cells are activated. These cells stay in the blood and monitor or any signs of infection. The Kupffer cells releases a substance called cytokines which acts as a regulatory mechanism for the process of inflammation as a response to the presence of endotoxin.

When cell is damaged due to infection, cytokines are produced as an immune system by the liver cells.
When alcohol is consumed the level of cytokine increases thereby producing symptoms resembling
alcoholic hepatitis. Cytokines result in the formation of scars, reduction of oxygen level in the liver cells, etc.

If you are interested in this topic, please check our resource on Alcoholism Cause of Inflammation and Cytokines