Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Response In Healthy Controls, Heavy Drinkers, and Patients With Alcoholic Hepatitis
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Response In Healthy Controls, Heavy Drinkers, and Patients With Alcoholic Hepatitis
Inflammatory responses in response to alcohol have been identified as contributing to the
 development of alcoholic hepatitis. The inflammatory response including that to
 LippoPolySaccharide is known to lead to progression of alcoholic liver disease. In addition
 to the inflammatory response mitochondrial perturbations exist and redox homeostasis is
 altered in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Though this is known there have been very few
 studies targeting mitochondrial function in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). We
 plan to collect 50 milliliters of blood from healthy control patients so that we can compare
 the data to that of patients with alcoholic hepatitis and those who are heavy drinkers
 without liver disease. In addition to studying mitochondrial function we will investigate
 cytokine response, as well as fatty acid metabolism, glucose, and insulin measurements
Inclusion of Subjects with Alcoholic Hepatitis (AH):

 *diagnosis of AH either by imaging, biochemical values or liver biopsy as well as drinking
 history

 Inclusion Heavy Drinking Controls:

 *heavy alcohol drinking will be defined as >40 g/day or >280g/week on average for women and
 >60 g/day or >420 g/week on average for men for a minimum of 6 months [6] and within the 4
 weeks prior to study enrollment.

 Exclusion Criteria for all groups

 -  inability or unwillingness to sign informed consent

 -  cancer

 -  autoimmune disease that in the opinion of the PI will confound study data

 Control subjects (drinking and non drinking) must meet the following criteria:

 -  INR < 1.4

 -  total bilirubin levels must <3

 -  no prior history of known alcoholic liver disease

 -  absence of hepatosplenomegaly (from physical examination or radiographic imaging) or
 stigmata of liver disease.