Associations between daily alcohol consumption and systemic lupus erythematosus-related cytokines and chemokines among US female nurses without SLE
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Objectives Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with decreased systemic lupus erythematosus risk, but the biologic basis for this association is unknown. We aimed to determine whether moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower concentrations of systemic lupus erythematosus-associated chemokines/cytokines in an ongoing cohort of female nurses without systemic lupus erythematosus, and whether the association was modified by the presence of systemic lupus erythematosus-related autoantibodies. Methods About 25% of participants from the Nurses’ Health Study ( n = 121,700 women) and Nurses’ Health Study 2 ( n = 116,429) donated a blood sample; of these, 1177 women were without systemic lupus erythematosus at time of donation. Cumulative average and current (within 4 years) intakes of beer, wine or liquor were assessed from pre-blood draw questionnaires. Chemokine/cytokine concentrations (stem cell factor, B-lymphocyte stimulator, interferon-inducible protein-10, interferon-alpha, interleukin-10) and antibodies against dsDNA and extractable nuclear antigens were obtained using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Antinuclear antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells. Results At blood draw, the women’s mean age was 56 years and 22% were antinuclear antibody positive; 36% were African-American. About half (46%) reported consuming 0–5 g/day of alcohol. Stem cell factor levels were 0.5% lower ( p < 0.0001) for every gram per day increase in cumulative average alcohol consumption. Women who consumed >5 g/day had mean stem cell factor levels 7% lower ( p = 0.002) than non-drinkers. Other cytokines were not significantly associated with alcohol intake. Autoantibody status did not modify observed associations. Conclusion In this study of female nurses, moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower stem cell factor levels, suggesting a plausible mechanism through which alcohol may lower systemic lupus erythematosus risk might be by decreasing circulating stem cell factor.
Source: Lupus
Language: English
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Avoidable Acute Care Use among Patients with Lupus, G2471007954, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Respiratory Outcomes in Prospective Cohorts, Respiratory Diseases, Genetics, and Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk, Metabolites of Dietary Intake and Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis, Novel Biomarkers and Prediction Models for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Life Course Cancer Epidemiology Cohort in Women, Dietary Quality, Body Adiposity, and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women, Sociodemographic Disparities in SLE Incidence: Behavioral and Psychosocial Factors, Long Term Multidisciplinary Study of Cancer in Women: The Nurses Health Study, Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology in Patients with Lupus, Premenopausal Hormone Levels and Risk of Breast Cancer, G881193632, G9000019617, Oklahoma Rheumatic Disease Research Cores Center, Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translational Resources, Joint Biology Consortium Resource-based Center, VERITY: Value and Evidence in Rheumatology using bioInformaTics, and advanced analYtics
OpenAlex ID: W3033734267