The morbidity and mortality resulting from alcohol-related diseases globally impose a substantive cost to society. Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for all types of injuries and excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Besides its multiorgan system effects, ethanol exposure is known to cause changes in the physiological response following trauma leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Multiple studies have demonstrated that alcohol significantly affects the immune system, and that modulation of inflammatory reactions seems not only to depend upon the pattern of exposure (acute, binge, or chronic) but also differs depending on the underlying insult that causes the inflammatory reactions (i.e., hemorrhagic shock and burns).

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the molecular pathology underlying the modulation of inflammation by ethanol exposure both locally in the liver, lung, gut, skin, brain, as well as the modulation of the immune system per se. We are particularly interested in articles that provide suitable animal models to study chronic as well as acute ethanol exposure, its influence on specific, inflammatory active cell populations, characterization of ethanol-dependent signaling processes of multiple organ systems and various immune cells in conditions of coexistent acute (i.e., trauma) and chronic inflammation (i.e., ethanol-induced steatohepatitis). Also of interest are not only studies that further elucidate mechanisms responsible for ethanol-mediated changes in inflammatory responses but also interventional approaches that aim to reverse the various influences of ethanol on the immune system. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Developments of new animal models to study acute, binge, and chronic ethanol exposure
• Advances to describe specific ethanol-dependent effects on the inflammatory and immunologic status or subjects with comorbidities such as acute or chronic disease, including cancer
• Studies that elucidate mechanisms by which acute, binge, and chronic ethanol exposure differentially affect inflammatory reactions
• Approaches to modulate inflammatory changes caused by ethanol exposure
• Human studies elaborating on cytokine responses dependent on ethanol exposure in acute and chronic diseases

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