Activity of the Adenylyl Cyclase in Lymphocytes of Male Alcoholic Patients Is State Dependent

A decreased basal and/or stimulated activity of the G-protein/adenylyl cyclase (AC) system in peripheral blood cells has been proposed to represent a trait marker for alcoholism. However, AC activity may underlie state-dependent changes, which may impair a proper interpretation of AC activity measurements. Our study examined systematically the AC activity in peripheral lymphocytes of 73 male alcohol-dependent patients (according to DSM-IV criteria) at three different time points of measurement during the clinical course of detoxification (day 0 = at admission, while still ethanol-affected; day 2 = at the presumed peak of withdrawal symptoms; day E = after detoxification). Basal and stimulated (with GTPγS and forskolin) AC activities were measured. AC activities were compared to those of a control group of 44 healthy male age-matched volunteers. As our main finding, we detected a significant decrease in AC activity from day 0 to day 2 (during withdrawal), with lowered AC activities in a vast majority of patients. This effect resolved after detoxification, as AC activities showed a significant increase from day 2 to E. No significant difference was detected between day O and E in AC activities of the patients. Compared with controls, AC activities in patients were significantly lower at day 2, but not at day O and E. Taken together, our results indicate rapid and marked state-dependent changes of AC activities in alcohol-dependent patients during the course of detoxification. For an adequate interpretation of AC activities in alcoholic patients, their clinical status must be taken into consideration.