Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase gene polymorphism in alcohol liver cirrhosis and alcohol chronic pancreatitis among Polish individuals.

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.

MATERIAL AND 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 ADH21 allele frequency was 97.97%. The tests did not show the ADH23 allele. The ADH31 allele frequency was 57.07%. The ADH21 and the ADH31 alleles were statistically more common among patients who abuse alcohol in comparison with the controls. The ADH22 allele was not detected in any of the patients with chronic alcohol pancreatitis. The ADH21/1 and the ADH31/1 genotypes were statistically significantly more common among the patients who abuse alcohol than in the control group. All patients were ALDH21/1 homozygotic. Patients with the ADH31 allele and the ADH31/1 genotype started to abuse alcohol significantly earlier in comparison to the patients with the ADH32 allele and the ADH3*2 /*2 genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

In the Polish population examined, the ADH31 allele and the ADH31/1 genotype are conducive to the development of alcoholism, alcohol liver cirrhosis and alcohol chronic pancreatitis. However, the ADH22 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 ADH31 allele and the ADH31/*1 genotype are conducive to alcohol abuse starting at a younger age.