Participation of food antigens in increased polyclonal antibody production induced by alcohol

In order to obtain a better understanding of hyperglobulinemia in chronic alcoholism, we investigated whether food antigens participated in the effects of long-term oral alcohol (AL) administration on serum immunoglobulin levels and polyclonal antibody production in spleen, Peyer's patch and bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice in specific pathogen free (SPF) circumstances. In animals fed antigen food (AF), three weeks of oral AL administration elicited an increase in polyclonal IgA antibody production in Peyer's patch. Moreover, seven weeks of oral AL administration elicited increases in both polyclonal IgA antibody production and serum IgA level. However, in animals fed antigen free food (AFF), oral AL administration failed to elicite increases in serum IgA level and polyclonal antibody production in spleen, Peyer's patch and bone marrow. Furthermore, in animals fed AF or AFF, oral AL administration failed to elicite increases in polyclonal IgM and IgG antibody production in any organ and serum IgM and IgG level. It is suggested that food antigens participated greatly in the elevation of serum IgA level in chronic alcoholism and that Peyer's patch is the major site of polyclonal IgA antibody production.