Acetaldehyde Adducts in Blood and Bone Marrow of Patients With Ethanol-Induced Erythrocyte Abnormalities

Abstract

Background: Although alcohol abuse is known to cause a wide array of adverse effects on blood cell formation, the molecular mechanisms by which alcohol exerts its toxic actions remain poorly defined. We examine here the formation of acetaldehyde-derived protein modifications in erythrocytes and in their bone marrow precursors using antibodies specifically recognizing acetaldehyde-modified epitopes in proteins independently of the nature of the carrier protein. Materials and Methods: We studied 138 consecutive adult patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration due to macrocytosis (MCV values above 99 fL). Assessment included complete blood counts, morphologic review, assessment of alcohol consumption, and biochemical and immunocytochemical assays for acetaldehyde adducts. Results: There were 68 patients (49%) with a history of excessive alcohol consumption, 28 (20%) of whom were patients with severe dependence. The blood smears prepared from the alcoholic patients with macrocytosis also

Red blood cell fatty acid ethyl esters: a significant component of fatty acid ethyl esters in the blood

“…The underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the effect of alcohol on RBC morphology are poorly understood (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)29). Ethanol consumption may alter membrane cholesterol content, phospholipid class distribution, and fatty acid composition (30,31).…”

“…However, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for the morphologic alterations are incompletely understood (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), esterification products of ethanol and fatty acids, have been shown to be incorporated into phospholipid bilayers up to 30 mol % of total membrane fatty acids (7).…”

Effect of gene polymorphisms and ethanol consumption on micronucleus frequency in human reticulocytes: a preliminary study

“…Wickramasinghe et al [20] suggested the possibility that ethanol is metabolized in some human bone marrow cells, and Latvala et al [21] suggested that acetaldehyde may be formed in bone marrow from alcohol and that the acetaldehyde-erythrocytes adducts would play a role in the generation of erythrocyte abnormalities. Meagher et al [22] reported that both ethanol (0.05-0.2%) and acetaldehyde (0.001%) are able to suppress the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in in vitro mice and human culture systems.…”

Índices plaquetários em indivíduos com doença hepática alcoólica crônica

“…Alguns estudos in vitro e experimentação animal têm demonstrado que doses elevadas de etanol são capazes de inibir o crescimento de colónias formadoras de megacariócitos e a diminuição dos níveis séricos de trombopoietina. Sendo o défice de produção a etiologia mais consensual para a trombocitopenia associada com o consumo de (1,5,7,9,10,11,13,14) . Nos doentes desta série, em que o critério de inclusão era a presença de trombocitopenia, encontrou-se associada a presença de anemia e de leucopenia.…”

“…Uma das principais razões para isto acontecer está relacionada com o facto destes índices não terem sido ainda muito estudados, nomeadamente no que se refere à sua utilidade em termos de diagnóstico. Na literatura existem poucos trabalhos que tiram partido dos índices plaquetários no estudo de doentes com DHAC (11) . Este trabalho tenta efectuar essa abordagem, tendose demonstrado um aumento do PDW e uma diminuição do PCT nestes doentes.…”