Reduced Fc-receptor function in human monocytes exposed to ethanol in vitro.

Mononuclear phagocytes from healthy human donors were incubated with or without ethanol (12-55 mM, initial concentration) in non-sealed wells in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air for 6 or 24 hr on day 1 or day 7 in culture. The actual ethanol concentration was assayed in the media at the beginning and at the end of each incubation period. The ethanol content was reduced to about 70% of the initial concentration after 6 hr incubation, and to below 20% after 24 hr incubation. Binding properties of the Fc-receptors, and their associated phagocytic activity, were tested after ethanol exposure of the cells. An initial concentration of 12 or 22 mM ethanol caused no differences from controls at any time in culture. Mononuclear phagocytes assayed on day 1 (= monocytes) showed reduced binding (60% of control) as well as internationalization (70% of control) of particles via the Fc-receptors after addition of 55 mM ethanol and incubation for 6 or 24 hr. Incubation in corresponding ethanol concentration for 6 hr had no effect on cells cultured for 7 days (= macrophages), whereas 24 hr incubation depressed the Fc-receptor function in these cells also. There were no changes in viability, morphology or spreading ability after ethanol treatment.