Stimulation of monocyte interleukin-8 by lipid peroxidation products: A mechanism for alcohol-induced liver injury

Interleukin-8(IL-8), an inflammatory cytokine that promotes neutrophil accumulation, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease but the mechanism of its production is unknown. The ability of lipid peroxidation products, also implicated in alcoholic liver disease, to stimulate IL-8 production was studied because of their alleged role in alcoholic liver disease. Peroxidized fatty acids (arachidonic and linolenic) as well as microsomal membranes stimulated IL-8 production by peripheral blood monocytes whereas ethanol and acetaldehyde did not. Hydrocortisone (5 μg/ml) prevented the IL-8 stimulation by peroxidized fatty acids. Ethanol- induced lipid peroxidation may secondarily further alcohol-induced liver injury through IL-8 chemotaxis of neutrophils.