TY - JOUR TI - Serum cytokine concentrations in alcohol-dependent individuals without liver disease AU - Nicolaou, C AU - Chatzipanagiotou, S AU - Tzivos, D AU - Tzavellas, EO and AU - Boufidou, F AU - Liappas, IA JO - Alcohol PY - 2004 VL - 32 TODO - 3 SP - 243-247 PB - EXCERPTA MEDICA INC-ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC SN - 0741-8329 TODO - 10.1016/j.alcohol.2004.02.004 TODO - cytokines; alcohol; liver disease; interleukin 6; IL-6 TODO - In the current study, our aim was to evaluate and investigate the influence of heavy alcohol intake on serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations. The selection of cytokines was based on their presumptive role in the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence. On admission to the Drug-Free Substance Addiction Detoxification clinic (”ATHENA”), blood samples were obtained from study participants, and serum cytokine concentrations were measured by using a commercial sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Alcohol dependence, as diagnosed according to DSM-IV [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.)] criteria for alcohol dependence and estimated by using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), was characterized by increased serum IL-6 concentration. Interleukin-8, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-alpha concentrations were comparable to those found in control subjects (P > .05). These results indicate that in alcohol-dependent individuals there is a significant increase in the serum IL-6 concentration (P < .05). (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. ER -