Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on lamina propria leukocytes

Chronic heavy alcohol consumption, also referred to as chronic heavy drinking (CHD), results in intestinal injury characterized by increased permeability, dysbiosis, nutrient malabsorption, potentially higher susceptibility to infection, and increased risk of colorectal cancer. However, our understanding of the mechanisms by which CHD results in intestinal damage remains incomplete. Here we investigated the impact of chronic drinking on transcriptional and functional responses of lamina propria leukocytes (LPLs) isolated from the four gut sections. Our analysis uncovered key regional differences in composition and function of LPLs independent of alcohol consumption. Indeed, no significant differences were detected between LPLs isolated from the ethanol and control groups at resting state within each major gut section. However, in response to PMA/ionomycin, duodenal LPLs from ethanol-drinking animals generated a dampened response while jejunal and ileal LPLs from ethanol-drinking animals produced a heightened response. Transcriptional responses following stimulation were pronounced in ileal and duodenal LPLs from the ethanol-drinking group but less evident in jejunal and colonic LPLs compared to controls suggesting a more significant impact of alcohol on these gut regions. The altered intestinal LPL function detected in our study reveals remarkable region specificity and novel insight into potential mechanisms of intestinal injury associated with CHD.