Alcohol Consumption in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Path through the Immune System
Open Access
- 16 April 2021
- Vol. 13 (4), 1324
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041324
Abstract
Benefits and harms of different components of human diet have been known for hundreds of years. Alcohol is one the highest consumed, abused, and addictive substances worldwide. Consequences of alcohol abuse are increased risks for diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver, and nervous system, as well as reduced immune system function. Paradoxically, alcohol has also been a consistent protective factor against the development of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we focused on summarizing current findings on the effects of alcohol, as well as of its metabolites, acetaldehyde and acetate, on the immune system and RA. Heavy or moderate alcohol consumption can affect intestinal barrier integrity, as well as the microbiome, possibly contributing to RA. Additionally, systemic increase in acetate negatively affects humoral immune response, diminishing TFH cell as well as professional antigen-presenting cell (APC) function. Hence, alcohol consumption has profound effects on the efficacy of vaccinations, but also elicits protection against autoimmune diseases. The mechanism of alcohol’s negative effects on the immune system is multivariate. Future studies addressing alcohol and its metabolite acetate’s effect on individual components of the immune system remains crucial for our understanding and development of novel therapeutic pathways.Funding Information
- German Research Foundation (RU2886 Project No.1 and No.3)
This publication has 127 references indexed in Scilit:
- Alcohol consumption is associated with lower self-reported disease activity and better health-related quality of life in female rheumatoid arthritis patients in Sweden: data from BARFOT, a multicenter study on early RABMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2013
- Critical factors in cut-out complication after gamma nail treatment of proximal femoral fracturesBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2013
- Effects of Alcohol on Histone Deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and the Neuroprotective Role of Trichostatin A (TSA)Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 2011
- Mechanisms by Which Chronic Ethanol Feeding Limits the Ability of Dendritic Cells to Stimulate T-Cell ProliferationAlcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 2010
- Follicular helper T cells are required for systemic autoimmunityThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2009
- Alcohol consumption is associated with decreased risk of rheumatoid arthritis: results from two Scandinavian case–control studiesAnnals Of The Rheumatic Diseases, 2008
- Chronic Ethanol Consumption Decreases Murine Langerhans Cell Numbers and Delays Migration of Langerhans Cells as Well as Dermal Dendritic CellsAlcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 2008
- Effect of Ethanol on Inflammatory ResponsesPancreatology, 2007
- Ethanol prevents development of destructive arthritisProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2007
- Evolving concepts of rheumatoid arthritisNature, 2003