TY - JOUR T1 - Structural Chromatin Alterations in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes of Alcohol-dependent Individuals During Detoxification Therapy JF - In Vivo JO - In Vivo SP - 529 LP - 539 VL - 28 IS - 4 AU - MARGARITA CHRYSANTHOU PITEROU AU - ISMINI KLOUKINA PANTAZIDOU AU - SOPHIA HAVAKI AU - JOHN LIAPPAS AU - MARIETTA ISSIDORIDES RADOVITCH Y1 - 2014/07/01 UR - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/28/4/529.abstract N2 - Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the state of chromatin condensation in peripheral blood leukocytes of alcoholics, during the early detoxification period, in order to highlight structural modifications, indicating epigenetic mechanisms regulated by alcohol. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were obtained from alcoholic patients, who were admitted for detoxification on an inpatient basis, and from healthy controls. The level of condensed heterochromatin and de-condensed euchromatin were detected through the ratio of lysine to arginine residues, by the application of the ammoniacal silver reaction (ASR) staining on leukocyte pellets, and through immunohistochemical localization of histone H1 on peripheral blood smears. Results: Lymphocytes and neutrophils with relaxed de-condensed chromatin were found, indicating a more reactive genome in alcoholics, even at the stage of detoxification. Conclusion: The results underline the importance of chromatin structure of leukocytes as a sensitive, peripheral, biological marker for epigenetic studies in living chronic alcoholics. ER -