THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ON FEMALE INFLAMMATION
Location
Ballroom
Start Date
4-5-2018 8:00 AM
End Date
4-5-2018 12:00 PM
Poster Number
91
Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor
Jonathan M. Peterson
Faculty Sponsor's Department
Department of Health Sciences
Type
Poster: Competitive
Project's Category
Biomedical and Health Sciences
Abstract or Artist's Statement
INTRODUCTION: Alcoholic cirrhosis occurs at a higher rate in female patients, at an earlier age, and with a lower consumption of alcohol compared to male patients. In our study on alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and adipokine levels, female mice showed a 50% higher mortality rate compared to ethanol fed male mice. The amount of ethanol consumed was similar between sexes when normalized to body weight. This resulted in our hypothesis that female mice are more susceptible to inflammation caused by alcohol consumption. METHODS: 12-week old female mice were fed a Lieber-Decarli alcohol diet (5% ETOH by volume) for 6-weeks and body weight and food intake were measured daily. Serum was collected from the mice and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum triglycerides, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured with the appropriate assays. RESULTS: In response to alcohol feeding, female mice showed significant increases in levels of ALT and AST compared to the male mice, indicating increased damage to the liver. TNF-α and IL-6 were also significantly increased in the ethanol fed female mice, indicating a significant increase in inflammation compared to the male ethanol fed mice. There was no difference found in the levels of serum triglycerides. CONCLUSION: These results indicate chronic alcohol consumption affects mice in a sex dependent manner, and that female mice are more susceptible to the adverse effects of alcohol than male mice. Increased female susceptibility to ethanol-induced damage must be considered in future ethanol-feeding studies.
THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ON FEMALE INFLAMMATION
Ballroom
INTRODUCTION: Alcoholic cirrhosis occurs at a higher rate in female patients, at an earlier age, and with a lower consumption of alcohol compared to male patients. In our study on alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and adipokine levels, female mice showed a 50% higher mortality rate compared to ethanol fed male mice. The amount of ethanol consumed was similar between sexes when normalized to body weight. This resulted in our hypothesis that female mice are more susceptible to inflammation caused by alcohol consumption. METHODS: 12-week old female mice were fed a Lieber-Decarli alcohol diet (5% ETOH by volume) for 6-weeks and body weight and food intake were measured daily. Serum was collected from the mice and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum triglycerides, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured with the appropriate assays. RESULTS: In response to alcohol feeding, female mice showed significant increases in levels of ALT and AST compared to the male mice, indicating increased damage to the liver. TNF-α and IL-6 were also significantly increased in the ethanol fed female mice, indicating a significant increase in inflammation compared to the male ethanol fed mice. There was no difference found in the levels of serum triglycerides. CONCLUSION: These results indicate chronic alcohol consumption affects mice in a sex dependent manner, and that female mice are more susceptible to the adverse effects of alcohol than male mice. Increased female susceptibility to ethanol-induced damage must be considered in future ethanol-feeding studies.