Genotypes of ALDH2 related to liver and pulmonary diseases and other genetic factors related to alcoholic liver disease.

Genetic factors related to the development of alcoholic liver and pancreatic diseases (ALD and APD) and of alcohol-induced asthma were analyzed. The development of ALD is genetically controlled and is directly associated with the polymorphisms of the genes of acetaldehyde (Ac-CHO) and ethanol-metabolizing enzymes, aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) and cytochrome P4502E1. The development of ALD and APD may also be genetically linked with the induction of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GTT) by alcohol. Alcohol-induced asthma is related to the genotypes of ALDH2 and is caused by rapid elevation of blood Ac-CHO. ALDH1 plays a very important role in the oxidation of Ac-CHO in blood.