Drug metabolism and signal transduction: possible role of Ah receptor and arachidonic acid cascade in protection from ethanol toxicity.
It has become increasingly clear that the so-called 'drug-metabolizing enzymes,' and the receptors controlling them, play a key role in regulating the steady-state levels of ligands important in the transcription of genes involved in cell division, differentiation, apoptosis, homeostasis, and neuroendocrine functions. In this Chapter is presented an example of the possible role of the high-affinity Ah receptor in protection against ethanol-induced inflammation by way of the arachidonic acid cascade. Ethanol consumption is associated with cancer, inflammation, birth defects, and other toxic effects. Ethanol-induced toxicity appears to be mediated by many of the same oxidative stress signal transduction pathways used by other tumor promoters, teratogens, mitogens and comitogens.
Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Ohio 45267-0056.
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Nebert
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D002477:Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D000431:Ethanol; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System