Alcohol and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Polymorphisms and a New Strategy for Prevention and Screening for Cancer in the Upper Aerodigestive Tract in East Asians

East Asian Variant of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Is Associated With Coronary Spastic Angina

“…Figure 2B). These finding were consistent with the well-recognized dominant role of the ALDH2*2 genotype in affecting enzymatic activities [5][6][7]17,18 and indicated that the genotype existed mainly as the heterozygote ALDH2*1/*2 ( Figure 3A and 3B).We therefore combined heterozygote (ALDH2*1/*2) and homozygote (ALDH2*2/*2) as a single category of ALDH2*2 or ALDH2*2 carriers and compared them with the wild homozygote ALDH2*1*1 in the analyses. Figure 4A and 4B).…”

“…[1][2][3][4] East Asians show rapid and intense alcohol flushing after drinking alcohol in an amount that has no effect on whites in up to approximately half of the population. [5][6][7] This is because of the presence of the variant of A B ALDH2 genotype with a substitution of glutamate to lysine at position 504 (Glu504Lys) or ALDH2*2, which is present in East Asians but is virtually absent in other populations of the world. 5-7 ALDH2*2 exerts a dominant-negative effect over wild-type homozygote ALDH2*1*1, and heterozygote ALDH2*1*2 shows severely reduced and homozygote ALDH2*2*2 negligible ALDH2 activity.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] Alcohol (ethanol) flushing syndrome (AFS), including facial flushing, headache, nausea, and palpitation in response to a small amount of alcohol intake, is common among East Asians but is almost absent in other populations of the world. [5][6][7] Ethanol is metabolized to acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase subunit β (ADH1B) and then to acetic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). 8 There are polymorphisms in human ADH1B and ALDH2 genes, and the carriers of variant ADH1B or ADH1B*2 (Arg47His) genotypes have an enhanced enzymatic activity, whereas those of variant ALDH2 or ALDH2*2 (Glu504Lys) genotypes have a severely reduced enzymatic activity.…”

“…8 There are polymorphisms in human ADH1B and ALDH2 genes, and the carriers of variant ADH1B or ADH1B*2 (Arg47His) genotypes have an enhanced enzymatic activity, whereas those of variant ALDH2 or ALDH2*2 (Glu504Lys) genotypes have a severely reduced enzymatic activity. [5][6][7] These genetic variants are commonly found in East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Taiwanese) but rare or absent in other ethnic populations of the world. [5][6][7] The carriers of these variant genes manifest AFS on intake of small amounts of alcohol because of accumulation of acetaldehyde.…”

Variant Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 (<i>ALDH2*2</i>) in East Asians Interactively Exacerbates Tobacco Smoking Risk for Coronary Spasm ― Possible Role of Reactive Aldehydes ―

“…8 The carriers of ALDH2*2 thus manifest alcohol flushing syndrome (AFS), including facial flushing, headache, nausea, and palpitation on intake of small amounts of alcohol caused by accumulation of acetaldehyde. 8- 10 We and others have reported that CSA can be induced by alcohol ingestion, particularly in those with AFS. 11- 13 We also have reported that ALDH2*2 is a risk factor for CSA.…”