Each year in the United States, there are an estimated 4 million cases of pneumonia, accounting for 600,000 hospitalizations with an annual cost of $23 billion. Alcohol is a common risk factor for the development of both community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia. Presently, the mechanisms by which chronic alcohol abuse alters human pulmonary immunity and increases the likelihood of developing pneumonia are essentially unknown. We hypothesize that increased oxidative stress via glutathione (GSH) depletion leads to abnormal function and viability of human alveolar macrophages (AM), and subsequently impairs alveolar clearance of infectious particles leading to pulmonary infections. In this proposal, the impact of alcohol abuse on the development of pneumonia will be explored by examining the function and viability of AM obtained from two patient cohorts: individuals with a prior history of chronic alcohol abuse and critically ill patients with acute lung injury. Additionally, we will determine the efficacy of oral antioxidant replacement therapy on AM function in individuals with a prior history of chronic alcohol abuse. The goal of this research endeavor is effective medical therapy to decrease the risk of community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia in the millions of individuals who chronically abuse alcohol. Dr. Ellen Burnham is presently a fellow in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Emory University. During the next five years, she will work with several investigators in the Emory Alcohol and Critical Care Clinical Research Program in order to develop necessary clinical and basic research skills. With the support of this proposal, Dr. Burnham will not only receive personal supervision from these established clinical and basic investigators, but will also enroll in the Clinical Research Curriculum Award (CRCA) program at Emory University and the Rollins School of Public Health, and obtain a Masters of Science in Clinical Research to further enhance her ability to perform high-quality research. The ultimate goal of this award is to develop an independent research career in """"""""translational"""""""" investigation for Dr. Burnham, examining the systemic effects of alcohol abuse as it relates to pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23AA013918-03
Application #
6881400
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-DD (20))
Program Officer
Russo, Denise A
Project Start
2003-04-01
Project End
2008-03-31
Budget Start
2005-04-01
Budget End
2006-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$130,373
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Burnham, Ellen L; Phang, Tzu L; House, Robert et al. (2011) Alveolar macrophage gene expression is altered in the setting of alcohol use disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 35:284-94
Burnham, Ellen L; Gaydos, Jeanette; Hess, Edward et al. (2010) Alcohol use disorders affect antimicrobial proteins and anti-pneumococcal activity in epithelial lining fluid obtained via bronchoalveolar lavage. Alcohol Alcohol 45:414-21
Burnham, Ellen L; Halkar, Raghuveer; Burks, Marsha et al. (2009) The effects of alcohol abuse on pulmonary alveolar-capillary barrier function in humans. Alcohol Alcohol 44:8-12
Yeh, Mary Y; Burnham, Ellen L; Moss, Marc et al. (2008) Non-invasive evaluation of pulmonary glutathione in the exhaled breath condensate of otherwise healthy alcoholics. Respir Med 102:248-55
de Wit, Marjolein; Gennings, Chris; Zilberberg, Marya et al. (2008) Drug withdrawal, cocaine and sedative use disorders increase the need for mechanical ventilation in medical patients. Addiction 103:1500-8
de Wit, Marjolein; Best, Al M; Gennings, Chris et al. (2007) Alcohol use disorders increase the risk for mechanical ventilation in medical patients. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 31:1224-30
Burnham, Ellen L; Moss, Marc; Ritzenthaler, Jeffrey D et al. (2007) Increased fibronectin expression in lung in the setting of chronic alcohol abuse. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 31:675-83
Esper, A; Burnham, E L; Moss, M (2006) The effect of alcohol abuse on ARDS and multiple organ dysfunction. Minerva Anestesiol 72:375-81
Burnham, E; Moss, M (2006) Progenitor cells in acute lung injury. Minerva Anestesiol 72:369-74
Moss, Marc; Burnham, Ellen Lyda (2006) Alcohol abuse in the critically ill patient. Lancet 368:2231-42

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