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Crews Lab Discovers Inflammatory Mechanisms Underlying Alcohol research alcohol actions on brain, liver, pancreas, fetus, the The Director’s Column endocrine system and the immune system, has contributed Thanks for your gifts to our Center! to Crews’ insights. Alternatively, I suspect that he A. Leslie Morrow, Ph.D. assembled this diverse group of researchers to study alcohol Dean’’’ s Club Ms. Carolyn S. Corn Mr. and Mrs. Ben Madore Associate Director, actions across so many systems of the body for the very Ms. Harriet W. Crisp Bowles Center for (annual gifts of $5000 and above) Ms. Regina J. Mahon purpose of discovering how the complex systemic and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Damerell Alcohol Studies Dr. William Maixner molecular roles of alcohol go awry in the disease of Center Line James A. Bowles Mr. Lewis A. Dancy Mrs. Melissa M. Mann Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies alcoholism. Mr. John N. Howard, Jr. Mr. F. E. Danielus Mr. and Mrs. H. J. McCarthy School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Schaecher Mr. Stephen M. Dean and Ms. Patricia L. Ms. Michelle McCarthy This integration of research across systems, organs, brain Ms. Ann Lewallen Spencer Amend Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. McConville, Jr. Dr. Fulton Crews’ brilliance can be attributed in part to regions, human development and the progression to Our mission is to conduct, coordinate, and promote basic and clinical research on the causes, prevention, and treatment of alcoholism and alcoholic disease. Tennessee Medical Foundation Ms. Elizabeth L. Deaver Mr. and Mrs. Loyce L. McCormick his understanding that human beings are not just a alcoholism is the hallmark of research in the Bowles Center Ms. Patricia Delaney Ms. Patricia E. McEvoy conglomerate of molecules and cells but complex organisms for Alcohol Studies. Dr. Fulton Crews has led this Center Volume 18, Number 1, March 2007 Mr. Charles H. Dodson Mr. Todd B. Melet with integrated organ, immune and endocrine systems. to promote such integration and has brought together a Chancellor’’’ s Club Mr. and Mrs. Leonard P. Duevel Mr. Afshin Meymandi Alcohol effects on all these systems will ultimately impact team of researchers determined to find the causes and Crews Lab Discovers Inflammatory Mechanisms Underlying (annual gifts of $2000 - $4999) Mr. and Mrs. David R. Eaton Mr. William L. Mitchell Mr. Samuel P. Echeveste Dr. Sheryl S. Moy many molecules and cells throughout the body. Hence, successful treatments for alcoholism in our lifetime. Alcohol-Induced Brain Damage Dr. Fulton T. Crews Ms. Sandy E. Englebert-Johnson Mr. Richard Munich systemic effects of alcohol on the entire body play a role in The Crews Lab is likely to find how preventing the Dr. A. Leslie Morrow and Dr. Michael C. Lish Mr. Steven Erickson Ms. Noreen Ordronneau the ultimate effects of alcohol on brain cells – including the proinflammatory effects of alcohol can prevent the Mr. and Mrs. J. Glenn Thurman “I don’t drink these days. I am allergic research technology have made it body against infections. Anti- Ms. Jewell Everhart Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Osler ability of alcohol to kill brain cells. Perhaps leading the development of alcoholism and promote recovery by First United Methodist Church Cary, NC, Inc to alcohol.....I break out in handcuffs.” possible to study biological correlates of inflammatory cytokines and growth Dr. and Mrs. David H. Overstreet Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, where investigators preventing relapse. His lab has shown that heavy alcohol Bowles Club Mr. and Mrs. Louis D. Fitzgerald Mrs. Sharon B. Owens -Robert Downey, Jr. alcoholism. Dr. Fulton Crews, alcohol factors also contribute to the diverse use can kill brain cells, prevent neurogenesis and the (annual gifts of $1000 - $1999) Dr. Rebekah L. Fleming Mr. Lester E. Pace While Robert Downey, actions of this large family Ms. Claire L. Flowers Mr. Edward F. Paquette The Bowles Center for survival of new brain cells, and promote inflammation Jr.’s statement was made in of mediators. Dr. James C. Garbutt Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove Bowles III Dr. and Mrs. Peter H. Patterson Alcohol Studies across organ systems that persists in the brain. jest, it encapsulates an Crews’ interest in Mr. Kirk J. Bradley Ms. Arline P. Gertzoff Mr. Robert A. Pearce and Mrs. Margaret M. Inflammation may be the key to many diseases in many Tel. (919) 966-5678 earnest opinion often cytokines was sparked by his Mr. Nathaniel T. Harris Gifford Family Foundation Pearce organs, as well as the endocrine and immune systems, that Mr. and Mrs. Gary Giles Fax. (919) 966-5679 expressed by alcoholics: Bowles Center colleagues’ Mr. James Kerrigan Ms. Sylvia D. Perry disrupts normal function and leads to the demise of the Mr. Gary W. Gillis that alcohol provokes an research demonstrating that Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Schaecher Mr. and Mrs. M. Randolph Phillips organism – the human being. Thus, the importance of Ms. Karen W. Watkins Mr. and Mrs. Eugene W. Goodwillie, Jr. Plan On It, Inv. “allergic reaction” tumor necrosis factor-α To become involved in our mission, call Crews’ research extends far beyond the effects of alcohol Dr. and Mrs. Jack L. Wilhelm Mr. and Mrs. Phillip E. Grace Ms. Eleanor R. Pohl Elizabeth Thomas at (919) 966-4977 or email characterized by a unique (TNFα), a proinflam- Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Willson in honor of Ms. Shara S. Graham Ms. Gail M. Poitras [email protected]. on brain cells and molecules. physiological and matory cytokine released by Ms. Elizabeth C. Grant Ms. Jo Carole Willson, MS, LPC, LCAS Dr. Karen S. Popovich and Mr. Kenneth S. Latta The faculty of the Bowles Center for Alcoholism, along psychological sensitivity to specific liver cells, Ms. Betsy C. Wright Mr. Frances Hall Ms. Erin N. Potts with their advisors and consultants recognized the Mr. and Mrs. Richard P. Hall alcohol’s effects. The idea contributes to liver disease Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Potts For treatment information call UNC Health achievements and brilliance of Fulton Crews by awarding Mr. Richard N. Hanes Care’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program that an allergic reaction to in alcoholism. Chronic Dr. Liya Qin Crews Lab (Left to Right): Front Row: Jian Zou, PhD, Richard Hanes, Jun He, Dr. Joseph M. Harmon at (919) 966-6039 or (888) 457-7457. him the 2006 Bowles Lectureship Award. We are proud Friends of the Center Mr. Gary Ramer alcohol underlies PhD, Fulton Crews, PhD, Liya Qin, PhD, Tonya Hurst, Olivera Pluzarev, PhD. alcohol use causes a leaky gut, Harris Incorporated Ms. Susan Reaney of his leadership of our Center, and we are proud to work alcoholism was first with bacteria and ethanol Anonymous Dr. Jun He Mr. William F. Renn, Jr. with a great coach towards the championship in the introduced into the medical literature by researcher and Director of the University combining to stimulate the liver to make Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. Hiskey Mr. and Mrs. Jon David Richmond tournament to reduce human suffering from alcoholism. the New York physician W. D. of North Carolina’s Skipper Bowles TNFα and other cytokines as part of an Anonymous Dr. and Dr. C. W. Hodge Mr. and Mrs. Mike Riley www.med.unc.edu/alcohol Anonymous Mr. John N. Howard Mr. Daniel Rosen and Ms. Claudia J. Niles Silkworth. In his pioneering 1937 paper, Center for Alcohol Studies, is at the inflammatory reaction. Present in excess, α Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence D. Adcock Mr. Stuart Howard Ms. Sarah Safrit Center Line, Vol. 18, No. 1 Published quarterly to bring readers a greater understanding of alcoholism research and the Center’s mission. “Alcoholism as a Manifestation of forefront of efforts to elucidate the TNF and other cytokines cause cellular Mr. and Mrs. William R. Allen III Ms. Marilyn L. Huff Mr. and Mrs. George L. Schueppert A. Leslie Morrow, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief; Elizabeth Thomas, Managing Editor; Jane Saiers, Ph.D., Science Writer Allergy,” Silkworth argued that neurobiology of alcoholism. Crews says toxicity and over time contribute to Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Amend Ms. Beth Ann Huskamp Ms. Angela Sercer alcoholism is a physical malady with a that, while Silkworth’s concept of alcoholic liver disease. Crews, whose Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Doug Hutchins Mr. J. Lansing Smith UNC Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies Non-Profit Organization development and course analogous in alcoholism as a classical allergic reaction primary research focus is alcohol- Ms. Helen J. Benson Mr. and Mrs. William M. Iacuessa Mr. and Mrs. Ralph N. Smith CB# 7178, Thurston-Bowles Building US Postage many respects to allergies such as hay has not been fully supported, remarkable induced brain degeneration, speculated Dr. Wilbert W. Blackman Mr. Jon Irish and Mrs. Janet Head Ms. Rhonda Steele 5 PAID Mr. and Mrs. William M. Borndahl Mr. Thomas H. Jewett Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Streb University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Permit No. 177 fever. His conceptualization of parallels between allergic responses and that cytokines might also contribute to Mr. and Mrs. Erskine B. Bowles Mr. and Mrs. Roger L. Johnson Ms. Rory M. Taylor Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7178 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1800 alcoholism as an allergic state ran the body’s response to alcohol have been neurodegeneration in alcoholism. Ms. Roxanne J. Boyd Mr. Daniel H. Kim Mrs. Alice W. Thomason counter to the prevailing view of revealed. In short, both allergic Cytokines are produced in the brain by Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Bradford Dr. Darin J. Knapp and Dr. Jane Saiers Mr. and Mrs. C. Duke Thompson alcoholism as a moral failing and responses and the body’s response to microglia, which are the brain’s immune Mr.
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