Résumé
Objective: Interleukin [IL]-15 is highly expressed in skeletal muscles, where it exerts anabolic effects, increase protein content in muscle fibres and promotes muscle growth. Alcoholics frequently suffer myopathy. Therefore, we analyse the level of IL-15 [and other myokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]] in alcoholics. Follow-up of skeletal muscle cytokines [myokines] such as IL-15 and TNF-alpha level in alcoholism, in an attempt to reveal if a certain level of myokines can be considered as a risk factor for short-term motility
Methods: IL-15 and TNF-alpha were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay analytic techniques in blood samples of 70 chronic alcoholics and 70 age- and sex-matched controls, and then the levels of myokines were correlated with liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], gamma glutamate transferase [GGT], amount of ethanol consumed, duration and creatine kinase [CK] activity levels
Results: All the alcoholic patients were heavy drinkers [217.04 +/- 149.93 g/day], who started at an early age [13.97 +/- 8.96 years]. IL-15, TNF-alpha levels and liver enzyme activity were significantly higher in these patients than in controls. Significant relationship was found between IL-15, quantity of ethanol consumption, TNF-alpha, CK, AST/ALT and between TNF-alpha and daily ethanol consumption [quantity] and GGT
Conclusion: A certain level of myokines such as IL-15 and TNF-alpha can be considered as a risk factor of alcoholics for short-term motility