IMR Press / FBL / Volume 7 / Issue 4 / DOI: 10.2741/A842

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article
Pulmonary host defenses and alcohol
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1 Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
2 Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
3 Alcohol Research Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2002, 7(4), 1314–1330; https://doi.org/10.2741/A842
Published: 1 May 2002
Abstract

Alcohol abuse is a major risk factor for the development of many infectious diseases, particularly pulmonary infections. Bacterial pneumonia and other lung infections in alcohol-abusing patients are usually severe and associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Normal host defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract consist of both innate and acquired immunity which operate effectively in preventing the invasion of infectious pathogens. Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that alcohol is an immunosuppressive agent that compromises the function of various components of the immune defense system. In recent years, human immunodeficiency virus infection has become epidemic, especially in individuals who abuse alcohol and other substances. Treatment of pulmonary infections in these immunocompromised hosts has continued to be a major challenge in our health care system. Immunotherapy to improve or enhance pulmonary host defense function in conjunction with aggressive antimicrobial regimens may provide a new approach in the management of infections in these patients.

Keywords
Lung
Infection
Immune Defense
Alcohol
Immunotherapy
Review
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