Low dose of alcohol attenuates pro-atherosclerotic activity of thrombin

Alcohol and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults: Cross-sectional evidence from the UK Biobank study

BACKGROUND

The association between arterial stiffness and alcohol consumption is still controversial. We investigated this relationship by performing continuous analysis in men drinking only beer/cider, and women drinking only red wine.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved participants aged 40-69 years consisting of 9029 men who drank only beer/cider, and 6989 women drinking only red wine. Alcohol consumption was captured by self-reported questionnaire and reported as units per week, where one unit is equal 10 mL pure ethanol. Arterial stiffness index (ASI) was estimated using photoplethysmography.

RESULTS

In men consuming a mean 17.8 (5th and 95th percentiles, 2.6-76.7) units/week, ASI increased by heptiles (sevenths) of alcohol captured from beer/cider consumption and after adjusting for age (9.14, 9.40, 9.51, 9.53, 9.80, 9.80, 10.00 m/s; p-trend < 0.001) and after full adjustment (9.29, 9.46. 9.55, 9.55, 9.73, 9.73, 9.75 m/s; p-trend = 0.013). Similarly, in women consuming a mean 8.1 (1.6-29.3) units/week, ASI increased by heptiles of alcohol captured from red wine consumption and after adjusting for age (8.05, 8.05, 8.05, 8.11, 8.17, 8.30, 8.45 m/s; p-trend = 0.012) and borderline significant after full adjustment (8.05, 8.07, 8.05, 8.07, 8.11, 8.22, 8.43 m/s; p-trend = 0.055). These associations were confirmed in multivariable-adjusted regression analysis in all men, men younger and older than 50 years, and when consuming more than 14 units per week. Similarly, these associations were confirmed in all women, women older than 50 years, and in those consuming more than 14 units per week.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive linear relationships exist between arterial stiffness and alcohol, irrespective of whether captured from beer/cider consumption in men or red wine consumption in women. No evidence existed to support the notion that our arteries benefit from any level of alcohol consumption.

Association between Alcohol Intake and Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review

Background: Arterial stiffness as assessed by Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) represents an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Several dietary compounds and lifestyle factors could influence arterial stiffness. The debate on the significance of the correlation between alcohol consumption and arterial stiffness is still open, given that the relationship is complex and potentially affected by several factors such as alcohol type, consumption levels, gender and age differences. Objective: This systematic literature review aims to examine the evidence supporting an association between alcohol use and PWV, in electronic databases including PubMed/MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library, from January 2010 to November 2020. Screening and full-text reviews were performed by three investigators and data extraction by two. Considering the significant heterogeneity of data only a qualitative analysis (systematic review) was performed. Results: A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Alcohol consumption was independently associated with arterial stiffness in a J-shaped way in most of the studies included. A benefit of alcohol consumption on arterial stiffness was found in four experimental studies, whilst an unfavorable increasing linear association was found in four others. Associations were confirmed with both oscillometric and tonometric PWV assessment methods. In some studies, a gender and age correlation was found with a more pronounced association in older males. In all studies elevated levels of alcohol consumption were associated with a worsening of arterial stiffness. Conclusions: Despite the variable findings across studies, the current review provides preliminary evidence that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with arterial stiffness values lower than expected, and evidence that high doses accelerate arterial ageing. These findings could be useful for clinicians who provide recommendations for patients at cardiovascular (CV) risk. Nevertheless, given the heterogeneity of study designs, interventions, measurement methods and statistical evaluations, the protective role of moderate alcohol consumption on arterial stiffness is likely but not certain, warranting additional trials and evidence.

Protective Effects of Low-Dose Alcohol against Acute Stress-Induced Renal Injury in Rats: Involvement of CYP4A/20-HETE and LTB4/BLT1 Pathways

Low-dose alcohol possesses multiple bioactivities. Accordingly, we investigated the protective effect and related molecular mechanism of low-dose alcohol against acute stress- (AS-) induced renal injury. Herein, exhaustive swimming for 15 min combined with restraint stress for 3 h was performed to establish a rat acute stress model, which was verified by an open field test. Evaluation of renal function (blood creatinine and urea nitrogen), urine test (urine leukocyte esterase and urine occult blood), renal histopathology, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis was performed. The key indicators of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 4A1/20-hydroxystilbenetetraenoic acid (20-HETE) pathway, cyclooxygenase (COX)/prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) pathway, and leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄)/leukotriene B₄ receptor 1 (BLT1) pathway were measured by real-time PCR and ELISA. We found that low-dose alcohol (0.05 g/kg, i.p.) ameliorated AS-induced renal dysfunction and histological damage. Low-dose alcohol also attenuated AS-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, presenting as reduced malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide formation, increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione activity, and decreased myeloperoxidase, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 levels (P < 0.05). Moreover, low-dose alcohol alleviated AS-induced apoptosis by downregulating Bax and cleaved caspase 3 protein expression and reduced numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end label-positive cells (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis indicated that 20-HETE was strongly correlated with oxidative stress, while LTB₄ was strongly correlated with inflammation. Low-dose alcohol inhibited AS-induced increases in CYP4A1, CYP4A2, CYP4A3, CYP4A8, and BLT1 mRNA levels and LTB₄ and 20-HETE content (P < 0.01). Interestingly, low-dose alcohol had no effect on COX1 or COX2 mRNA expression or the concentration of PGE₂. Furthermore, low-dose alcohol reduced calcium-independent phospholipase A₂ mRNA expression, but did not affect secreted phospholipase A₂ or cytosolic phospholipase A₂ mRNA expression. Together, these results indicate that low-dose alcohol ameliorated AS-induced renal injury by inhibiting CYP4A/20-HETE and LTB₄/BLT1 pathways, but not the COX/PGE₂ pathway.

Alcohol consumption in relation to carotid subclinical atherosclerosis and its progression: results from a European longitudinal multicentre study

BACKGROUND/AIM

The association between alcohol consumption and subclinical atherosclerosis is still unclear. Using data from a European multicentre study, we assess subclinical atherosclerosis and its 30-month progression by carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) measurements, and correlate this information with self-reported data on alcohol consumption.

METHODS

Between 2002-2004, 1772 men and 1931 women aged 54-79 years with at least three risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) were recruited in Italy, France, Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland. Self-reported alcohol consumption, assessed at baseline, was categorized as follows: none (0 g/d), very-low (0 - 5 g/d), low (> 5 to  ≤ 10 g/d), moderate (> 10 to ≤ 20 g/d for women,  > 10 to ≤ 30 g/d for men) and high (> 20 g/d for women, > 30 g/d for men). C-IMT was measured in millimeters at baseline and after 30 months. Measurements consisted of the mean and maximum values of the common carotids (CC), internal carotid artery (ICA), and bifurcations (Bif) and whole carotid tree. We used quantile regression to describe the associations between C-IMT measures and alcohol consumption categories, adjusting for sex, age, physical activity, education, smoking, diet, and latitude.

RESULTS

Adjusted differences between median C-IMT values in different levels of alcohol consumption (vs. very-low) showed that moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower C-IMTmax[- 0.17(95%CI - 0.32; - 0.02)], and Bif-IMTmean[- 0.07(95%CI - 0.13; - 0.01)] at baseline and decreasing C-IMTmean[- 0.006 (95%CI - 0.011; - 0.000)], Bif-IMTmean[- 0.016(95%CI - 0.027; - 0.005)], ICA-IMTmean[- 0.009(95% - 0.016; - 0.002)] and ICA-IMTmax[- 0.016(95%: - 0.032; - 0.000)] after 30 months. There was no evidence of departure from linearity in the association between alcohol consumption and C-IMT.

CONCLUSION

In this European population at high risk of CVD, findings show an inverse relation between moderate alcohol consumption and carotid subclinical atherosclerosis and its 30-month progression, independently of several potential confounders.

Hirudin prevents vascular endothelial cell apoptosis and permeability enhancement induced by the serum from rat with chronic renal failure through inhibiting RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway

Endothelial cells injury and activation contribute to arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis. Hirudin (Hiru) can inhibit the activity of thrombin, which was reported to enhance endothelial cell permeability and promote vascular inflammatory responses. RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway is also important in regulating vascular endothelial permeability. This study aimed to investigate the role of Hiru on the viability and permeability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) following stimulation of serum from rat with chronic renal failure (CRF) and illustrated the effects of Hiru on RhoA/ROCK signaling. Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and CRF group. Serum from each group was collected to stimulate HUVECs. Proliferation capability was estimated with Cell Count Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Transwell assay was performed to determine permeability. Cell apoptosis was examined using Tunel staining. Telomere length and telomerase activity were determined by qPCR. Moreover, the expression of RhoA, ROCK1 and ROCK2 was estimated via western blot. Results showed that the serum from CRF rat significantly inhibited cell viability while enhanced cell permeability and apoptosis. Different concentrations of Hiru prevented the above effects caused by CRF serum. Additionally, Hiru recovered the CRF serum-induced decreased telomere length and telomerase activity. Hiru also inhibited the protein expression of RhoA, ROCK1 and ROCK2, which were activated by CRF serum. Moreover, the ROCK inhibitor, Y27632, exhibited similar effects with Hiru. In conclusion, Hiru-restored HUVECs cell viability, telomere length and telomerase activity, suppressed permeability and apoptosis in the presence of CRF serum might depend on inactivating the RhoA/ROCK signaling.

Role of Alcohol Drinking in Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), increase as the population ages around the world. Environmental factors also play an important role in most cases. Alcohol consumption exists extensively and it acts as one of the environmental factors that promotes these neurodegenerative diseases. The brain is a major target for the actions of alcohol, and heavy alcohol consumption has long been associated with brain damage. Chronic alcohol intake leads to elevated glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and permanent neuronal damage associated with malnutrition. The relationship and contributing mechanisms of alcohol with these three diseases are different. Epidemiological studies have reported a reduction in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in individuals who drink low amounts of alcohol; low or moderate concentrations of ethanol protect against β-amyloid (Aβ) toxicity in hippocampal neurons; and excessive amounts of ethanol increase accumulation of Aβ and Tau phosphorylation. Alcohol has been suggested to be either protective of, or not associated with, PD. However, experimental animal studies indicate that chronic heavy alcohol consumption may have dopamine neurotoxic effects through the induction of Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and an increase in the amount of α-Synuclein (αSYN) relevant to PD. The findings on the association between alcohol consumption and ALS are inconsistent; a recent population-based study suggests that alcohol drinking seems to not influence the risk of developing ALS. Additional research is needed to clarify the potential etiological involvement of alcohol intake in causing or resulting in major neurodegenerative diseases, which will eventually lead to potential therapeutics against these alcoholic neurodegenerative diseases.

Cardiovascular effects of alcohol: A double-edged sword / how to remain at the nadir point of the J-Curve?

BACKGROUND

In addition to its established harmful effects on the liver and other organs, heavy alcohol use confers deleterious effects on the cardiovascular (CV) system, as well. However, data have emerged that light/moderate alcohol consumption (1 drink/day for women and 1-2 drinks/day for men) may be protective against CV disease.

OBJECTIVE/METHODS

English articles regarding the CV effects of alcohol/ethanol were reviewed by search in Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

A J-shaped curve has been proposed to illustrate a differential effect of alcohol on the CV system with the lowest point on the curve (light/moderate drinking) corresponding to optimal exposure to alcohol, which may confer cardioprotection, the rather neutral effect of non-drinking, and the highest risk of heavy and/or binge drinking reflecting the consequence of harmful exposure. However, staying at the nadir of this J-shaped curve appears difficult. Furthermore, concern and distrust have also been raised about the quality of evidence for such "cardioprotection", emphasizing the need for further randomized controlled trials. Another concern relates to the risk of moderate drinking leading to problem drinking, since alcohol is the most common addictive substance.

CONCLUSION

Optimal exposure to alcohol (light/moderate use) means that one needs to stay at the nadir of the J-shaped curve for alcohol use to avail oneself of possible cardioprotection, and this may not be an easy thing to accomplish and/or adhere to, especially if one "likes" alcohol drinking. However, the evidence of "cardioprotection" conferred by alcohol has also been refuted, due to lack of randomized controlled trials.