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New research has found that certain genetic factors may both increase and protect against the risk of developing alcoholism.

A research team in the US found that the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2*2) allele is considered protective against alcoholism, while the intravenous administration of an anti-Aldh2 antisense gene can curtail long-term drinking among rodents.

The results have raised hopes of developing gene therapy treatments for alcoholism.

"Gene therapy is a technique that has been proposed for a number of human conditions, mostly to correct inborn errors that lead to severe conditions," said Richard Deitrich, professor emeritus at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

"In terms of alcohol research, however, this is certainly 'cutting edge'. The goal here is to silence a gene or at least impair its function, thereby mimicking a genetic condition that some Asian individuals normally have that protects them from developing alcoholism."

In the study, published in the January issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, researchers used rats that were initially bred as heavy alcohol drinkers, and then further rendered alcohol dependent through a two-month period of unlimited, voluntary intake of the equivalent strong beer, followed by withdrawal, followed by a one-hour "happy hour" each day.

During this hour, the animals drank ten times more alcohol than what is normally consumed. An anti-Aldh2 antisense gene was then intravenously administered, with the intent of "shutting off" ALDH2 activity.

"Animals that were given a single intravenous injection of the antisense gene therapy reduced their consumption by one half, for a full month, which was the duration of the study," said Yedy Israel, professor of pharmacological and toxicological chemistry at the Universidad de Chile, and adjunct professor of pathology, anatomy and cell biology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

"This would appear to have implications for a social-drinking pattern, and the notion of 'harm reduction', where full abstinence is not the only acceptable goal." Professor Israel explained.

However, Professor Deitrich added: "These findings are a long way from being applied to humans."

"There are both practical and theoretical issues that need to be addressed. For example, does the antisense gene get into the brain."

Article published on 07/01/2008 by DryOutNow.com

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