Chronic Alcohol Ingestion Impairs Rat Alveolar Macrophage Phagocytosis via Disruption of RAGE Signaling

Chronic alcohol ingestion reduces RAGE protein expression and increases the amount of sRAGE in alveolar lavage fluid, likely via cleavage by MMP-9. In addition, it impairs phagocytic function. Antioxidants restore membrane-bound RAGE and phagocytic function.