Blood ethanol levels and adenylyl cyclase activity in lymphocytes of alcoholic patients

Abstract Background: The adenylyl cyclase (AC) signal transduction pathway is a target of acute and chronic ethanol actions. This study examined whether AC activity in lymphocyte membranes of male alcoholic patients correlated with blood concentrations of ethanol. Methods: Patients ( n = 13; mean age: 40 ± 8 years) were studied on the day of admission (day 0) and 2 days later under detoxification. Moreover, 13 age-matched male healthy controls (mean age 40 ± 9 years) were included. Lymphocyte membranes were prepared by differential centrifugation whereby blood ethanol was washed out. As a measure of AC activity the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) from adenosine triphospha…