초록
<P>Lipid accumulation in the liver due to chronic alcohol consumption (CAC) is crucial in the development of alcohol liver disease (ALD). It is promoted by the NADH/NAD ratio increase via alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-dependent alcohol metabolism and lipogenesis increase via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in the liver. The transcriptional activity of PPARγ on lipogenic genes is inhibited by S-nitrosylation but activated by denitrosylation via S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), an enzyme identical to ADH3. Besides ADH1, ADH3 also participates in alcohol metabolism. Therefore, we investigated the specific contribution of ADH3 to ALD onset. ADH3-knockout (<I>Adh3-/-</I>) and wild-type (WT) mice were administered a 10% ethanol solution for 12 months. <I>Adh3-/-</I> exhibited no significant pathological changes in the liver, whereas WT exhibited marked hepatic lipid accumulation (<I>p</I> < 0.005) with increased serum transaminase levels. <I>Adh3-/-</I> exhibited no death during CAC, whereas WT exhibited a 40% death. Liver <I>ADH3</I> mRNA levels were elevated by CAC in WT (<I>p</I> < 0.01). The alcohol elimination rate measured after injecting 4 g/kg ethanol was not significantly different between two strains, although the rate was increased in both strains by CAC. Thus, ADH3 plays a key role in the ALD onset, likely by acting as GSNOR.</P>