William J. Calhoun

Background Chronic alcohol consumption/misuse is a significant risk factor for pneumonia and lung infection leading to the development of chronic pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung fibrosis. In this study, we sought to delineate the mechanism of alcohol‐associated lung disease. We did so by measuring in vitro mitochondrial, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) oxidative stress in human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs) treated with ethanol and its oxidative (acetaldehyde) and nonoxidative (fatty acid ethyl esters or FAEEs) metabolites. Methods Primary hBECs from a normal subject were treated with relevant concentrations of ethanol and its metabolites and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Viability and cytotoxicity were determined using cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay kits, respectively. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured by colorimetric reaction, and 4‐hydroxynenonal (4HNE) by immunohistochemistry. Endoplasmic reticulum stress and dysregulated cellular bioenergetics were determined by western blot analysis. Mitochondrial stress and real‐time ATP production rates were determined using a Seahorse Extracellular Flux analyzer. Amelioration of ethanol‐induced oxidative/ER stress and mitochondrial energetics was determined using an AMPKα agonist. Results Human bronchial epithelial cells treated with ethanol, acetaldehyde, and FAEEs showed a concentration‐dependent increase in the secretion of LDH, oxidative/ER stress, deactivation of AMPKα phosphorylation and mitochondrial stress (decreased spare respiratory capacity) with concomitant decreases in mitochondrial and glycolytic ATP production rates. FAEEs caused greater cytotoxicity, ER stress, and dysregulated cellular bioenergetics than those ethanol and its oxidative metabolite. AMPKα agonist‐pretreated cells significantly ameliorated ethanol‐induced oxidative/ER stress, deactivation of AMPKα, and dysregulated cellular bioenergetics. Conclusions Findings of this study suggest that ethanol and its metabolites contribute to cytotoxicity, oxidative/ER stress, and dysregulation of cellular bioenergetics in hBECs. The attenuation of ethanol‐induced ER/oxidative stress and mitochondrial respiration by an AMPKα agonist may reflect a potential for it to be developed as a therapeutic agent for chronic alcohol‐associated lung disease.