Inflammatory Biomarkers, Microbiome, Depression, and Executive Dysfunction in Alcohol Users

Abstract

Alcohol-related disorders (ARD) are highly prevalent among Latin American-Caribbean countries. Mental disorders are common comorbidities in individuals with ARD. However, the etiology of the association between ARD and mental disorders remains unclear. We examined the association of inflammatory cytokines, microbiome, and other biomakers with measures of depression, social anxiety, and executive functions. We observed a significant increase in cytokine and chemokine expression levels in saliva and plasma in the alcohol group (AG) samples. Also, the salivary bacterial composition in the AG revealed an abundance of Prevotella. Depression symptomatology was markedly higher in the AG, but social anxiety levels were negligible. AG also exhibited executive dysfunctions, which negatively correlated with increased plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased salivary concentrations of Prevotella bacteria. Our study suggests that chronic alcohol use correlates with executive dysfunction, immune system dysregulation, and dysbiosis of the salivary microbiota. Additional studies are needed to understand the role of the microbiome and inflammation in alcohol use and mental comorbidities.

Differences in the subgingival microbial composition associated with alcohol intake: A systematic review

“…The exact molecular mechanisms by which alcohol intake act in the subgingival microbial ecotype are not yet clear. Recently, studies investigating mouthwash 12 , 42 and salivary 43 samples identified features of a dysbiotic community such as decreased abundance of commensals, overall loss of diversity and enriched pathogenic taxa in heavy drinkers. The increased proportions of specific periodontal pathogens caused by ethanol are possibly a result of the decreased commensals (i.e, Lactobacillales , Streptococcus and Rothia ) levels 12 , 44 and/or inflammation-related disturbances (which are expected to act on periodontal pocketing) associated with the immune subversion on the gingival crevicular fluid, ultimately impairing the host-microbial balance.…”

Dysbiosis of the Beneficial Gut Bacteria in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease from India

“…Using the method outlined by Rodrguez-Rabassa et al . [ 16 ] and Zapała et al .,[ 17 ] the core microbiome assessment of a taxonomic cluster that represented a sizable fraction of the population and a comparative analysis of the microbiome within and between the groups was examined.…”

Ketamine plus Alcohol: What We Know and What We Can Expect about This

“…As mentioned before, excitotoxicity results in neuronal degeneration and neuroinflammation, in which such disturbances have been widely reported in depression pathology [ 108 , 146 , 148 , 149 ]. Indeed, depression symptomatology has been associated with cytokine and chemokine expression levels’ upregulation in the saliva and plasma of individuals that consumed ethanol, as well as dysbiosis of salivary microbiota [ 156 ]. Furthermore, a degenerative process provoked by excitotoxicity is accompanied by mitochondrial damage, release of superoxide radicals, lipid peroxidation, and other mechanisms linked to oxidative stress [ 147 , 150 ].…”