In vitro effects of alcohols and their metabolites on antibody-forming activity of T and B lymphocytes.

In vitro experiments on splenocytes from noninbred mice showed that ethylene glycol, methanol, and ethanol dose-dependently suppressed functional activity of T and B cells. These compounds in equimolar concentrations (10, 100, and 500 mM) produced similar effects, hence their immunotoxicity is determined by their metabolites. The suppressive effects of alcohol biotransformation products to antibody-forming activity of T and B cells decreased in the following order: glyoxylic acid - formic acid - glycolaldehyde - glycolic acid - acetaldehyde. The effects of these substances were dose-dependent. Suppression of T cells was more pronounced.