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   Breakdown in gut barriers to bacteria may promote inflammation and craving in   
   alcoholics   
   Date:   
   October 30, 2014   
   Source:   
   Elsevier   
      
   Depiction of a man's struggle with alcohol (stock image). "In this study, we   
   established a link between alcohol consumption, craving and activation of   
   pro-inflammatory cytokines which contribute to a systemic inflammatory status   
   in alcohol-dependent    
   patients," said Stärkel.   
   Credit: © ambrozinio / Fotolia   
   Bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract fulfill many vital functions and are   
   critical for digestion. Yet, these same bacteria can induce strong   
   inflammatory responses by the immune system if they penetrate the gut and   
   enter the bloodstream.   
   Although acute inflammation is a natural response to protect the body, chronic   
   or systemic inflammation is linked to numerous disorders and diseases. Prior   
   research has established the involvement of inflammatory processes in the   
   development of    
   psychiatric disorders, including major depression and alcohol dependence, but   
   the origins of such inflammation have remained unclear.   
   Now, researchers at Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium, led by senior   
   authors Dr. Philippe de Timary and Dr. Peter Stärkel, have found that   
   inflammatory pathways are stimulated in alcohol-dependent patients by bacteria   
   that escape the gut    
   barrier, which correlated with alcohol craving. They report their findings in   
   the current issue of Biological Psychiatry.   
   "In this study, we established a link between alcohol consumption, craving and   
   activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines which contribute to a systemic   
   inflammatory status in alcohol-dependent patients," said Stärkel.   
   To conduct this work, they recruited 63 actively-drinking alcohol-dependent   
   patients who underwent testing both before and after alcohol detoxification.   
   That data was compared with testing from 14 healthy volunteers.   
   When patients were exposed to alcohol, the researchers found that the   
   inflammatory response originated from gut-derived bacterial products that   
   crossed the gut barrier, which in turn, activated specific inflammatory   
   pathways in blood mononuclear cells.   
   Prior to undergoing detoxification, the observed inflammation correlated with   
   both alcohol consumption and alcohol craving among the alcohol-dependent   
   patients. Following detoxification, some, but not all, of the altered   
   inflammatory processes were    
   either partially or fully recovered.   
   "This establishes a new concept where events having their origin at peripheral   
   sites in the body could modify central brain mechanisms that ultimately   
   influence behaviour in alcohol dependence," Stärkel explained.   
   Dr. John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry, commented, "This study   
   suggests that there may be a link between inflammatory processes that develop   
   when gut barriers to bacteria break down and risk for continued heavy drinking   
   among people with    
   alcohol use disorders. The findings suggest that it might be helpful to   
   protect and restore gut integrity and to reduce inflammation when helping   
   patients recover from alcohol use disorders."   
   Stärkel agreed, adding, "The study does not only open new areas for research   
   but also identifies new targets for developing novel treatment and management   
   approaches for alcohol dependence. Targeting the gut-brain axis either at the   
   level of the gut    
   itself or at the level of effector cells such as blood mononuclear cells in   
   order to influence behaviour could become a potential option in the care of   
   alcohol-dependent patients."   
   Story Source:   
   The above story is based on materials provided by Elsevier. Note: Materials   
   may be edited for content and length.   
   Journal Reference:   
   Sophie Leclercq, Christine De Saeger, Nathalie Delzenne, Philippe de Timary,   
   Peter Stärkel. Role of Inflammatory Pathways, Blood Mononuclear Cells, and   
   Gut-Derived Bacterial Products in Alcohol Dependence. Biological Psychiatry,   
   2014; 76 (9): 725 DOI: 10.   
   1016/j.biopsych.2014.02.003   
   Cite This Page:   
   MLA APA Chicago   
   Elsevier. "Breakdown in gut barriers to bacteria may promote inflammation and   
   craving in alcoholics." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 October 2014.   
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