Genetic polymorphism of alcohol dehydrogenase 3 in digestive tract alcohol damage.
OBJECTIVE
Genetic polymorphism of enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism plays a relevant role in etiopathogenesis of alcohol disease. The aim of the present study was to find in the Polish population the ADH3 genotypes, which are likely to be responsible for higher susceptibility to alcohol disease of the liver and chronic alcohol pancreatitis.


METHODS
The ADH3 genotype and ADH3*1 and ADH3*2 alleles frequency were examined in 266 patients. Genotyping of the ADH3 was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods on white cell DNA.


RESULTS
The genotype ADH3*1/ADH3*1 was found to be significantly more frequent in alcohol abusers compared to non-drinkers. The examinations of the group of alcohol abusers showed that the genotype ADH3*2/ADH3*2 occurred statistically significantly less frequently in patients with chronic pancreatitis than those without alimentary lesions and patients with cirrhosis. Thus it is likely to be the protective factor of chronic pancreatitis.


CONCLUSIONS
The alleles ADH3*1 and genotype ADH3*1/ADH3*1 were significantly more frequent in men than in women, while alleles ADH3*2 and genotype ADH3*2/ADH3*2 were more common in women. This may account for rarer alcohol addiction observed in Polish women.
Cichoz-Lach
H
H
Department of Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland. Lach.halina@wp.pl
Partycka
J
J
Nesina
I
I
Wojcierowski
J
J
Słomka
M
M
Celiński
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D011044:Poland; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D000431:Ethanol; C420272:ADH1C protein, human; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase