Low levels of ethanol stimulate activation of NKT cells via enhanced CD1d antigen loading.

<p>A) T84d cells were loaded with αGalCer in combination with different concentrations of ethanol. The next day these cells were incubated with DN32 NKT cells and the production of IL-2 was measured after 24 hours. B) T84d cells were loaded with αGalCer. The next day these cells were incubated with DN32 NKT cells in combination with different concentrations of ethanol. The production of IL-2 was measured after 24 hours. C) Uptake of ³H-αGalCer in HeLa cells (open bars) and HeLa-D cells (solid bars) exposed to ethanol in the range 0–5% at 4°C shows a positive correlation to alcohol concentration. Error bars indicate SEM, *p<0.05.