title: Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase gene polymorphism in alcohol liver cirrhosis and alcohol chronic pancreatitis among Polish individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of ADH and ALDH gene polymorphism on the development of alcoholism, alcohol liver cirrhosis and alcohol chronic pancreatitis among Polish individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the allele and genotype of ADH2, ADH3 and ALDH2 in 198 subjects: 57 with alcohol cirrhosis, 44 with alcohol chronic pancreatitis and 43 "healthy alcoholics"; 54 healthy non-drinkers served as controls. Genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method on white cell DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the population examined the ADH2*1 allele frequency was 97.97%. The tests did not show the ADH2*3 allele. The ADH3*1 allele frequency was 57.07%. The ADH2*1 and the ADH3*1 alleles were statistically more common among patients who abuse alcohol in comparison with the controls. The ADH2*2 allele was not detected in any of the patients with chronic alcohol pancreatitis. The ADH2*1/*1 and the ADH3*1/*1 genotypes were statistically significantly more common among the patients who abuse alcohol than in the control group. All patients were ALDH2*1/*1 homozygotic. Patients with the ADH3*1 allele and the ADH3*1/*1 genotype started to abuse alcohol significantly earlier in comparison to the patients with the ADH3*2 allele and the ADH3*2 /*2 genotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the Polish population examined, the ADH3*1 allele and the ADH3*1/*1 genotype are conducive to the development of alcoholism, alcohol liver cirrhosis and alcohol chronic pancreatitis. However, the ADH2*2 allele is likely to protect against these conditions. Genetic polymorphism of ALDH2 shows no correlation with alcohol addiction or alcohol cirrhosis and alcohol chronic pancreatitis. The ADH3*1 allele and the ADH3*1/*1 genotype are conducive to alcohol abuse starting at a younger age.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Sikorskiego 1/75, PL-20-814 Lublin, Poland. Lach.halina@wp.pl
authors: Halina
authors: H
authors: Cichoz-Lach
authors: Jadwiga
authors: J
authors: Partycka
authors: Irina
authors: I
authors: Nesina
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Celinski
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Slomka
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Wojcierowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000235:genetics*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000235:genetics*; D011044:Poland; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase