Next Article in Journal
Variable Expression of GABAA Receptor Subunit Gamma 2 Mutation in a Nuclear Family Displaying Developmental and Encephalopathic Phenotype
Next Article in Special Issue
Antiviral Compounds Screening Targeting HBx Protein of the Hepatitis B Virus
Previous Article in Journal
Hierarchical Nanoflowers of MgFe2O4, Bentonite and B-,P- Co-Doped Graphene Oxide as Adsorbent and Photocatalyst: Optimization of Parameters by Box–Behnken Methodology
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Molecular Changes in Relation to Alcohol Consumption and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

1
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchi-kamicho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
2
Departments of Internal Medicine, and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA
3
Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9679; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179679
Submission received: 11 August 2022 / Revised: 23 August 2022 / Accepted: 24 August 2022 / Published: 26 August 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism of Chronic Viral and Non-viral Liver Diseases)

Abstract

:
Alcohol is the one of the major causes of liver diseases and promotes liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In hepatocytes, alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde, which causes hepatic steatosis, cellular apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, peroxidation, production of cytokines and reduces immune surveillance. Endotoxin and lipopolysaccharide produced from intestinal bacteria also enhance the production of cytokines. The development of hepatic fibrosis and the occurrence of HCC are induced by these alcohol metabolites. Several host genetic factors have recently been identified in this process. Here, we reviewed the molecular mechanism associated with HCC in alcoholic liver disease.

1. Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious problem in chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis, which are associated with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection [1], and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) [2,3]. It is also well-known that alcohol consumption causes hepatic steatosis, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and HCC in patients with or without HCV infection [4]. Globally, alcoholic liver disease is a major health problem.
HCC is associated with chronic hepatic inflammation and hepatic fibrosis derived from various liver diseases with different etiologies [1,2,3,4]. There are some common molecular pathways, which are involved in different etiology of HCC [2,3,5,6]. Some specific molecular mechanisms are known in the incidence of HCC among patients with alcoholic liver diseases. The quantity of alcohol consumption for developing alcoholic hepatitis is not clear.
The lower limit of daily alcohol use for the development of cirrhosis is in the range of 30–50 g of ethanol [7]. However, most patients with alcoholic hepatitis drink more than 100 g daily [8]. In general, most patients with alcoholic liver disease reported heavy alcohol use (more than 100 g daily) for two or more decades [7]. Overweight subjects for at least 10 years are additional risk factor for cirrhosis, acute alcoholic hepatitis and steatosis [8]. Patients with NAFLD or NASH have a negative history of alcohol abuse, as indicated by a weekly ethanol use of <140 g in women, and <210 g in men. Alcoholic beverages may be responsible for steatosis but also for progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to NASH and/or cirrhosis [9]. Moderate alcohol consumption is negatively related to the incidence of NASH and liver fibrosis; moderate alcohol consumption is positively linked with the incidence of HCC in patients with chronic viral liver diseases [10].
Current therapy is effective in early stages of HCC. Understanding the molecular mechanism is essential for effective and targeted therapy for HCC. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are approved for HCC treatment. The combination of targeted therapy molecules and immune modulators can enhance the efficacy of the therapy. In this article, we reviewed the molecular mechanisms for HCC occurrence from alcoholic liver disease. It is important to understand the molecular changes in relation to alcohol consumption and HCC. These could provide the early detection and early treatment of HCC associated with alcoholic liver diseases, resulting in the improvement of prognosis of patients with HCC-related alcoholic liver diseases.

2. Alcohol Metabolism and Liver Injuries

2.1. Alcohol Oxidation

Alcohol includes ethanol, which is oxidized mainly in the liver (Figure 1) [11]. Ethanol is also oxidized less in the gastrointestinal tract than the liver [11]. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) catabolizes ~80% ethanol oxidation by initial conversion to acetaldehyde in the cytosol of hepatocytes [12,13]. The resulting increased ratio of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)/oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), derived from the vitamin niacin, ref. [14] may play a role in the initial pathogenesis of alcohol-induced steatosis [15]. Dietary nicotinic acid supplementation is reported to improve chronic alcohol-induced fatty liver in rats [16].
The microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system (MEOS) pathway metabolizes most of the remaining ethanol [12,13,15,16]. Cytochrome P450IIE1 (CYP2E1) is involved in this MEOS pathway. Although hepatic injury in alcoholics due to intake of acetaminophen has been reported, susceptibility to acetaminophen hepatotoxicity is apparently caused by the induction of CYP2E1 by ethanol and by depletion of glutathione (GSH) [17]. A minor proportion of ethanol is also metabolized through the peroxisome catalase-dependent pathway [12,18]. The ADH pathway may be a major pathway in the conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde in the liver [18]. Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) further oxidize most of acetaldehyde derived from ethanol to acetate in the liver. Acetaldehyde accumulation may account for the rinsing cause with alcohol consumption in patients with an inactive form of ALDH [19].
Hepatotoxicity, resulting from the CYP2E1-mediated activation of acetaminophen, was exhibited in the livers of human CYP2E1-transgenic mice by elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, enhanced hepatocyte necrosis, and decreased CYP2E1 levels [20]. Alcoholic liver disease was enhanced in CYP2E1-transgenic mice [21]. CYP2E1 may play a role in alcohol-enhanced steatohepatitis [22] and potentiate TNF-induced liver injury [23]. Autophagy also demonstrates a protective effect on CYP2E1-dependent liver injury after chronic ethanol treatment [23].

2.2. Acetaldehyde

Acetaldehyde may have toxic effects on the liver. The accumulation of acetaldehyde facilitates the progression of alcoholic fatty liver and other liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), viral hepatitis and HCC, through adduct formation and inflammatory responses [24]. The accumulation of acetaldehyde increases the sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated hepatocyte cell death [12,25,26,27,28].
Acetaldehyde increases TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-8 expression, stimulates IL-1β and IL-8 secretion, increases lipid peroxidation damage and decreases catalase activity in human hepatoma HepG2 cells [25]. Apoptosis caused by chronic ethanol treatment may be due to the potentiation of TNF-induced p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) [26]. A major source of the surge in circulating proinflammatory cytokines is Kupffer cells, and they are sensitized to generate TNF-α [27]. The regulation of autophagy is also involved in the formation of steatosis and inflammation in chronic alcohol intake-patients [28].
Acetaldehyde binds to host proteins, induces of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and forms of neoantigen [12,29,30,31]. In mice, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) increases the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and ER stress-related protein phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (peIF2α). ALDH2 decreases the expression of apoptosis-related protein, including C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), caspase 12 and caspase 9, resulting in the induction of ER stress response and apoptosis [29]. Acetaldehyde also suppresses HBV-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I associated antigen presentation on hepatocytes by induction of ER stress and Golgi fragmentation [30]. Ethanol and its metabolites, acetaldehyde and fatty acid ethyl esters, cause cytotoxicity, ER/oxidative and mitochondrial stress, and dysregulate AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) signaling [31].

2.3. Hepatic Steatosis, Oxidative Stress and Peroxidation

The pathology of the liver from NAFLD and NASH mimics alcoholic steatosis and alcoholic liver disease [2]. Steatosis is a prominent feature of alcoholic liver disease. As described above, alcohol oxidation leads to fat deposition in the hepatocytes [12]. Alcoholic liver disease includes hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, acetaldehyde-mediated toxicity, and cytokine/chemokine-induced inflammation [32].
The increased ratio of NADH/NAD in hepatocytes disrupts mitochondrial β-oxidation of fatty acids and results in steatosis of liver in patients with alcohol consumption [33]. Alcohol consumption can directly activate sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and inactivate the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, leading to the induction of fatty acid synthesis and inhibition of fatty liver β-oxidation, which leads to the development of alcoholic steatosis [33,34,35,36]. Alcohol exposure also inhibits AMPK [37] and, subsequently, increases acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) activity [38], but decreases carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT-1) activity [39], leading to an increase in fatty acid synthesis and a decrease in fatty acid β-oxidation [33].

3. Immune Mechanism of Alcoholic Liver Diseases

3.1. Endotoxin

There is no animal model that fully mirrors human alcoholic liver disease by alcohol consumption, as rodents have a natural aversion for alcohol consumption [40]. Inflammatory activation of resident Kupffer cells by portal-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has a leading role for alcoholic liver disease in animal models [41]. Endotoxin, which is also known as LPS, is produced by intestinal bacteria. Alcohol consumption increases endotoxin level in liver and blood, enhances inflammatory cytokine production by Kupffer cells, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in liver for damaging hepatocytes [42,43]. ROS accumulation generates structural and functional changes in the DNA for cell cycle change leading to carcinogenesis [44]. Oxidative stress induces lipid peroxidation products which enhance the actions of endotoxins by gut bacteria [45], and induces mutations in the p53 gene, which develops HCC [46].
Neutrophils not only promote hepatocyte injury by producing ROS but may also help in liver repair by removing apoptotic or necrotic hepatocytes and produce growth factors. Neutrophils play an important role in controlling bacterial infection in alcoholic liver disease, but severe alcoholic liver disease is combined with impaired phagocytic and bactericidal activities [47,48,49,50]. Thus, similar phenomena which observed in the Kupffer cells are also observed in neutrophils, with the consequence of recruitment of neutrophils. Intestinal CYP2E1 promotes gut LPS transporting into blood through the alcohol-induced increased gut leakage, resulting in endotoxemia and steatosis and steatohepatitis of the liver [23].

3.2. Innate Immunity and Adaptive Immunity

The development of alcoholic liver disease also impairs innate and adaptive immune system [51]. Complement activation plays a role in developing alcoholic liver disease. Classical complement pathway can be activated by complement component 1q (C1q) binding to apoptotic cells in liver for hepatic inflammation [51,52]. The complement component 3 (C3) contributes triglyceride accumulation in the liver and adipose tissues, while complement component 5 (C5) involves in inflammation and injury for chronic ethanol consumption [51,53,54].
Ethanol exposure activates both cellular and circulating innate immune components [55]. Ethanol exposure increases toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4)-dependent cytokine expression in Kupffer cells and redox signaling dysregulation [55,56]. Conversely, ethanol suppresses innate immune responses impairing TLR3 signaling mechanism, various innate effector molecules, and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines [57].
Alcohol-dependent subjects with altered intestinal permeability change gut-microbiota composition [58]. Alcohol causes intestinal dysbiosis, resulting in the reduction of the capacity of the microbiome to synthesize saturated long-chain fatty acids and the proportion of Lactobacillus species [59]. Gut-associated bacteria contribute to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver diseases by their structural components (pathogen-associated molecular patterns, PAMPs), like TLR4-ligand LPS, or by their metabolites altering gut mucosal integrity [60]. A host of bacterial PAMPs activate the cells of innate immune systems via binding to specific receptors, including TLRs in cells [60]. Cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) and myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2), bind LPS and upon LPS-binding activate TLR4 [61,62]. Gut-derived LPS activates hepatic macrophages via these molecules.
LPS-induced TNF-α plays a key role in the development of alcoholic liver disease [60]. Patients with alcoholic liver disease have increased serum levels of IL-1, TNF-α and IL-8, elevated expression of caspase-1 and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), neutrophilia, and activation of monocytes and macrophages in the liver [60]. The role of inflammasomal activation has been also confirmed in alcoholic liver disease [63].
Alcohol dysregulates function of lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, and tissue macrophages of the innate immune system and these eventually adaptive immune responses [64]. Circulating immunoglobulin A (IgA) is elevated in patients with alcoholic liver disease [65,66]. As T cells generally control IgA production produced by B cells, higher level of IgA suggests T cell independent drive to IgA production exists in alcoholic cirrhosis [67] In patients with alcoholic liver diseases, inflammation-induced liver-resident IgA-producing cells accumulate in fibrotic liver, and may dismantle anti-liver cancer immunity [68]. Liver-resident IgA-producing cells express programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and IL-10, and directly induce exhaustion of liver cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes. These events prevent the appearance of HCC and the expression of a limited repertoire of T-cell receptors against tumor-associated antigens in HCC development [69]. Gut microbes may also promote HCC development and liver-resident IgA-producing plasmocytes may suppress CTL activation [69]. Thus, adaptive immune response is also impaired in patients with alcoholic liver disease. As PD-L1 blockade induces HCC regression, the analysis of these mechanism may be useful for the further development of HCC treatment [69,70].

3.3. Chemokines

The levels of circulating chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8: or IL-8) were highly elevated in patients with alcoholic hepatitis, particularly in those who died [71,72]. Different CXC chemokines, particularly CXCL8, mediates recruitment of neutrophils, which contribute to liver tissue damage in the alcoholic liver disease [73]. CXCL8 also exacerbates alcohol-induced fatty liver diseases in mice [74]. CCL20, which is a ligand of CCR6, mediates hepatic inflammation, promotes hepatic fibrogenesis and mediates the effects of LPS on liver injury [75].
Activated macrophages are divided into M1 macrophages and M2 macrophages, and both are closely associated to inflammatory responses. M1 macrophages are mainly involved in pro-inflammatory responses, whereas M2 macrophages are mainly involved in anti-inflammatory responses. Among CC chemokines, CCL2 also promotes inflammation, fibrosis, and possibly steatosis [76]. The expression of CCL2 in alcoholic liver disease is associated with disease severity and neutrophil infiltrates in the liver [77]. Thus, similar to various cytokines, chemokines also play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease [71].

4. Alcohol and Hepatic Fibrosis

Possible Host Factors Affecting Hepatic Fibrosis in Alcoholic Liver Diseases

Alcohol is a common cause of cirrhosis [12]. Women seem to progress from alcoholic hepatitis to cirrhosis even if they withdraw from alcohol [12,68]. Estriol treatment in rats enhances LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in Kupffer cells [68]. Male sex hormones may protect the liver against ethanol-related damage [78]. The androgen receptor may also be involved in the development of disease progression in chronic hepatitis C [79,80].
A recent, genome-wide, association study for alcohol-related cirrhosis identified risk loci in the mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component 1 gene (MARC1) and the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U-like 1 gene (HNRNPUL1) [81]. Minor A allele of MARC1:rs2642438 and minor C allele of HNRNPUL1:rs15052 were associated with reduced risk and increased risk, respectively, of alcohol-related cirrhosis (adjusted odds ratio, 0.76; p = 0.0027 and 1.30; p = 0.020) [81]. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs35652124 variation in the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-encoding gene nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2) is a potential genetic marker for susceptibility to alcoholic cirrhosis [82]. Variants of transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) and membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing protein 7 (MBOAT7) gene polymorphisms are identified as risk factors for alcoholic liver cirrhosis (p = 7.89 × 10−10 and p = 1.03 × 10−9, respectively) [83]. Patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 is also an important risk locus for alcohol-related cirrhosis (p = 1.54 × 10−48) at a genome-wide level of significance [83]. PNPLA3 is also involved in liver fibrosis in patients with NASH/NAFLD [84,85,86]. Of interest, these three loci play a role in lipid processing. Thus, several genetic factors could be associated with the development of alcoholic liver fibrosis.
Hepatic fibrosis accompanies an accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) from activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the production of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) [87]. HSCs are the primary source of activated myofibroblasts that produce ECM in the liver [88]. HSCs are a major fibrogenic cell type in the liver and contribute to collagen accumulation during chronic liver disease [89]. In alcoholic liver disease, the additional effects of acetaldehyde, endotoxin, impairment of innate and adaptive immunity, and others on these pathways seem to enhance hepatic fibrosis. HSCs may be activated by enhanced cytokines in patients with alcoholic liver disease, leading to fibrosis [90]. Epigenetic mechanism, such as microRNA, may also be critical [91].
TGF-β is a potent inducer of fibrogenic epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) [92]. TGF-β depends on RAS and MAPK pathway inputs for the induction of EMTs. RAS-responsive element binding protein 1 (RREB1), a RAS transcriptional effector [93], is a key partner of TGF-β-activated SMAD transcription factors in EMT. RREB1 provides a molecular link between RAS and TGF-β pathways for coordinated induction of developmental and fibrogenic EMTs. Transformed hepatocytes secreting TGF-β may also induce a cellular microenvironment to promote fibroblast activation for stromal changes [92]. These molecules may play roles in development of alcoholic fibrosis and cancer.
Interferon (IFN)-γ next to IFN-α, plays an important role in mechanisms of liver injury [94]. IFN-γ can induce IFN-α expression in mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) [95]. IFN-γ reduces platelet endothelial-cell adhesion molecule (PECAM)-1 expression in parallel with the increase in intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression. Early downregulation of PECAM-1 in parallel to an ICAM-1 enhancement is a likely important process for the adhesion and transmigration of inflammatory cells. TGF-β induced PECAM-1 up-regulation may be of importance during the recovery phase. Thus, TGF-β also works as a mediator of repair process after liver injury [96].

5. Alcohol and HCC

HCC is one of the male-dominant diseases, irrespective of etiology [78,97]. A meta-analysis of the dose-response relations for the amount of alcohol consumption and risk of HCC demonstrated a 1.8-times increase in risk for the heaviest drinkers (with more than 100 g daily), although alcohol consumption is one of the major strong risk factors for liver cirrhosis with a 27-times increase in risk on drinking 100 g daily [98,99,100,101].
In patients with alcoholic liver disease, the proportion of a loss of function variant (rs72613567) in 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13) carriers with HCC was significantly lower (32%) than in chronic liver disease patients without HCC (40%) [102]. PNPLA3-rs738409 and TM6SF2-rs58542926 are inherited risk variants of HCC development in patients with alcoholic liver disease [103]. Genetic polymorphism of ALDH 2 analysis [45] demonstrated that all HCC associated with pure alcoholic liver disease had ALDH 2(1)/2(1) in Japan [104].
Alcohol consumption is associated with other cancer risks than HCC [105]. Heavy drinkers with the ALDH2*2 allele are associated with poor survival in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma [106]. Both alcohol consumption level and ADH1C (rs698) and ALDH2 (rs671) polymorphisms are important to consider as gastric cancer risks [107]. The extent of the effect of the ADH polymorphisms is greater in subjects who were heavy drinkers, heavy smokers, and had esophageal cancer [108]. Drinking may also increase the risk of lung cancer, especially among individuals who have the variant ALDH (2) alleles [109].
Alcoholic liver diseases occasionally resemble autoimmune hepatitis or drug-induced liver injury. In such cases, it may be difficult to diagnose alcoholic liver disease, even from liver biopsy. Attention should be paid to the fact that alcoholic liver injury in some patients occurs with alcohol dependence [110].

6. Prevention and Treatment

Abstinence, i.e., stopping drinking is the best treatment for alcoholic liver diseases (Figure 2). Nalmefene is a μ opioid antagonist and a partial agonist at the κ receptor, as needed use may prevent the development of HCC in patients with alcoholic liver diseases [111,112].
Alcoholic liver disease is a major health problem. In this article, we discussed the molecular mechanisms of the occurrence of HCC induced by alcohol. The development of alcoholic liver disease includes genetic factors and gene polymorphism, along with alcohol consumption. On top of them, behavior and low socioeconomic status may enhance the risk factors for alcoholic liver disease. Alcoholic beverages induce not only the apoptosis of hepatocytes with the consequence of reduction of protein synthesis, but also the production of cytokines and chemokines. DNA damage by acetaldehyde, production of NO, and reduced immune surveillance may be associated with hepatocarcinogenesis (Figure 1). Another important area of HCC research is the identification of risk-predictive biomarkers. The prospective evaluation has been the major challenge because of long-term follow-up required for longitudinal group to observe the interruption of clinical outcomes and statistical correlation. Understanding the pathogenesis at the molecular level including genetic and epigenetic modifiers will help in developing new therapeutic targets.

7. Conclusions

Several studies are undergoing for the development of promising biomarkers and precision medicine and, hopefully, these will provide significant improvement in the poor prognosis of patients with alcoholic liver disease and HCC in the near future. Further, life-style changes for diet and alcohol consumption remain an important issue for controlling the surge of alcoholic liver disease.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, all authors; resources, all authors; data curation, all authors; writing—original draft preparation, all authors; writing—review and editing, all authors; funding acquisition, R.S.-T., R.R., R.B.R. and T.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

Research activities of Sasaki-Tanaka R and Kanda T are supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) (JP21fk0210075). Research activities of Ray R and Ray RB are supported by the National Institutes of Health (DK113645 and DK081817).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

Kanda T received research grants from Towa Pharmaceutical and AbbVie. Moriyama M received research grants from Towa Pharmaceutical. Other authors declared that there are no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Kanda, T.; Goto, T.; Hirotsu, Y.; Moriyama, M.; Omata, M. Molecular Mechanisms Driving Progression of Liver Cirrhosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B and C Infections: A Review. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 1358. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Kanda, T.; Matsuoka, S.; Yamazaki, M.; Shibata, T.; Nirei, K.; Takahashi, H.; Kaneko, T.; Fujisawa, M.; Higuchi, T.; Nakamura, H.; et al. Apoptosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases. World J. Gastroenterol. 2018, 24, 2661–2672. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. Kanda, T.; Goto, T.; Hirotsu, Y.; Masuzaki, R.; Moriyama, M.; Omata, M. Molecular Mechanisms: Connections between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Steatohepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 1525. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Yang, Y.M.; Kim, S.Y.; Seki, E. Inflammation and Liver Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets. Semin. Liver Dis. 2019, 39, 26–42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Machida, K. TLRs, Alcohol, HCV, and Tumorigenesis. Gastroenterol. Res. Pract. 2010, 2010, 518674. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  6. Alisi, A.; Ghidinelli, M.; Zerbini, A.; Missale, G.; Balsano, C. Hepatitis C virus and alcohol: Same mitotic targets but different signaling pathways. J. Hepatol. 2011, 54, 956–963. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  7. Cohen, S.M.; Ahn, J. Review article: The diagnosis and management of alcoholic hepatitis. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2009, 30, 3–13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  8. Naveau, S.; Giraud, V.; Borotto, E.; Aubert, A.; Capron, F.; Chaput, J.C. Excess weight risk factor for alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 1997, 25, 108–111. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  9. Angulo, P.; Kleiner, D.E.; Dam-Larsen, S.; Adams, L.A.; Bjornsson, E.S.; Charatcharoenwitthaya, P.; Mills, P.R.; Keach, J.C.; Lafferty, H.D.; Stahler, A.; et al. Liver Fibrosis, but No Other Histologic Features, Is Associated with Long-term Outcomes of Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Gastroenterology 2015, 149, 389–397.e10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  10. Kwon, I.; Jun, D.W.; Moon, J.H. Effects of Moderate Alcohol Drinking in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Gut Liver 2019, 13, 308–314. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  11. Seitz, H.K.; Gärtner, U.; Egerer, G.; Simanowski, U.A. Ethanol metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract and its possible consequences. Alcohol Alcohol. Suppl. 1994, 2, 157–162. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  12. Stewart, S.; Forrest, E. Alcohol and the Liver. In Sherlock’s Diseases of the Liver and Biliary System, 13th ed.; Dooley, J.S., Lok, A.S.F., Garcia-Tsao, G., Pinzani, M., Eds.; Wiley Blackwell: Oxford, UK, 2018; pp. 494–510. [Google Scholar]
  13. Lieber, C.S.; DeCarli, L.M. Ethanol oxidation by hepatic microsomes: Adaptive increase after ethanol feeding. Science 1968, 162, 917–918. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  14. Lieber, C.S.; DeCarli, L.M. Reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase: Activity enhanced by ethanol consumption. Science 1970, 170, 78–80. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  15. Li, Q.; Xie, G.; Zhang, W.; Zhong, W.; Sun, X.; Tan, X.; Sun, X.; Jia, W.; Zhou, Z. Dietary nicotinic acid supplementation ameliorates chronic alcohol-induced fatty liver in rats. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 2014, 38, 1982–1992. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  16. Takahashi, T.; Lasker, J.M.; Rosman, A.S.; Lieber, C.S. Induction of cytochrome P-4502E1 in the human liver by ethanol is caused by a corresponding increase in encoding messenger RNA. Hepatology 1993, 17, 236–245. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  17. Zimmerman, H.J.; Maddrey, W.C. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) hepatotoxicity with regular intake of alcohol: Analysis of instances of therapeutic misadventure. Hepatology 1995, 22, 767–773. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  18. Dinis-Oliveira, R.J. Oxidative and Non-Oxidative Metabolomics of Ethanol. Curr. Drug Metab. 2016, 17, 327–335. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  19. Tanaka, F.; Shiratori, Y.; Yokosuka, O.; Imazeki, F.; Tsukada, Y.; Omata, M. High incidence of ADH2*1/ALDH2*1 genes among Japanese alcohol dependents and patients with alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 1996, 23, 234–239. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  20. Cheung, C.; Yu, A.M.; Ward, J.M.; Krausz, K.W.; Akiyama, T.E.; Feigenbaum, L.; Gonzalez, F.J. The cyp2e1-humanized transgenic mouse: Role of cyp2e1 in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. Drug Metab. Dispos. 2005, 33, 449–457. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  21. Butura, A.; Nilsson, K.; Morgan, K.; Morgan, T.R.; French, S.W.; Johansson, I.; Schuppe-Koistinen, I.; Ingelman-Sundberg, M. The impact of CYP2E1 on the development of alcoholic liver disease as studied in a transgenic mouse model. J. Hepatol. 2009, 50, 572–583. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  22. Minato, T.; Tsutsumi, M.; Tsuchishima, M.; Hayashi, N.; Saito, T.; Matsue, Y.; Toshikuni, N.; Arisawa, T.; George, J. Binge alcohol consumption aggravates oxidative stress and promotes pathogenesis of NASH from obesity-induced simple steatosis. Mol. Med. 2014, 20, 490–502. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  23. Lu, Y.; Cederbaum, A.I. Cytochrome P450s and Alcoholic Liver Disease. Curr. Pharm. Des. 2018, 24, 1502–1517. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  24. Wang, Q.; Chang, B.; Li, X.; Zou, Z.J. Role of ALDH2 in Hepatic Disorders: Gene Polymorphism and Disease Pathogenesis. Clin. Transl. Hepatol. 2021, 9, 90–98. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  25. Gutierrez-Ruiz, M.C.; Gomez Quiroz, L.E.; Hernandez, E.; Bucio, L.; Souza, V.; Llorente, L.; Kershenobich, D. Cytokine response and oxidative stress produced by ethanol, acetaldehyde and endotoxin treatment in HepG2 cells. Isr. Med. Assoc. J. 2001, 3, 131–136. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  26. Aroor, A.R.; Shukla, S.D. MAP kinase signaling in diverse effects of ethanol. Life Sci. 2004, 74, 2339–2364. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  27. Hoek, J.B.; Pastorino, J.G. Cellular signaling mechanisms in alcohol-induced liver damage. Semin. Liver Dis. 2004, 24, 257–272. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  28. Guo, R.; Xu, X.; Babcock, S.A.; Zhang, Y.; Ren, J. Aldehyde dedydrogenase-2 plays a beneficial role in ameliorating chronic alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation through regulation of autophagy. J. Hepatol. 2015, 62, 647–656. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  29. Long, P.; He, M.; Yan, W.; Chen, W.; Wei, D.; Wang, S.; Zhang, Z.; Ge, W.; Chen, T. ALDH2 protects naturally aged mouse retina via inhibiting oxidative stress-related apoptosis and enhancing unfolded protein response in endoplasmic reticulum. Aging 2020, 13, 2750–2767. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  30. Ganesan, M.; Mathews, S.; Makarov, E.; Petrosyan, A.; Kharbanda, K.K.; Kidambi, S.; Poluektova, L.Y.; Casey, C.A.; Osna, N.A. Acetaldehyde suppresses HBV-MHC class I complex presentation on hepatocytes via induction of ER stress and Golgi fragmentation. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 2020, 319, G432–G442. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Srinivasan, M.P.; Bhopale, K.K.; Caracheo, A.A.; Kaphalia, L.; Loganathan, G.; Balamurugan, A.N.; Rastellini, C.; Kaphalia, B.S. Differential cytotoxicity, ER/oxidative stress, dysregulated AMPKalpha signaling, and mitochondrial stress by ethanol and its metabolites in human pancreatic acinar cells. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 2021, 45, 961–978. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  32. Seitz, H.K.; Bataller, R.; Cortez-Pinto, H.; Gao, B.; Gual, A.; Lackner, C.; Mathurin, P.; Mueller, S.; Szabo, G.; Tsukamoto, H. Alcoholic liver disease. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers 2018, 4, 16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  33. Gao, B.; Bataller, R. Alcoholic liver disease: Pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets. Gastroenterology 2011, 41, 1572–1585. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  34. You, M.; Fischer, M.; Deeg, M.A.; Crabb, D.W. Ethanol induces fatty acid synthesis pathways by activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP). J. Biol. Chem. 2002, 277, 29342–29347. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  35. Ji, C.; Deng, Q.; Kaplowitz, N. Role of TNF-alpha in ethanol-induced hyperhomocysteinemia and murine alcoholic liver injury. Hepatology 2004, 40, 442–451. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  36. Galli, A.; Pinaire, J.; Fischer, M.; Dorris, R.; Crabb, D.W. The transcriptional and DNA binding activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha is inhibited by ethanol metabolism. A novel mechanism for the development of ethanol-induced fatty liver. J. Biol. Chem. 2001, 276, 68–75. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  37. You, M.; Matsumoto, M.; Pacold, C.M.; Cho, W.K.; Crabb, D.W. The role of AMP-activated protein kinase in the action of ethanol in the liver. Gastroenterology 2004, 127, 1798–1808. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  38. Viollet, B.; Guigas, B.; Leclerc, J.; Hébrard, S.; Lantier, L.; Mounier, R.; Andreelli, F.; Foretz, M. AMP-activated protein kinase in the regulation of hepatic energy metabolism: From physiology to therapeutic perspectives. Acta Physiol. 2009, 196, 81–98. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  39. Donde, H.; Ghare, S.; Joshi-Barve, S.; Zhang, J.; Vadhanam, M.V.; Gobejishvili, L.; Lorkiewicz, P.; Srivastava, S.; McClain, C.J.; Barve, S. Tributyrin Inhibits Ethanol-Induced Epigenetic Repression of CPT-1A and Attenuates Hepatic Steatosis and Injury. Cell Mol. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2020, 9, 569–585. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  40. Yanguas, S.C.; Cogliati, B.; Willebrords, J.; Maes, M.; Colle, I.; van den Bossche, B.; de Oliveira, C.P.M.S.; Andraus, W.; Alves, V.A.F.; Leclercq, I.; et al. Experimental models of liver fibrosis. Arch. Toxicol. 2016, 90, 1025–1048. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  41. Sandahl, T.D.; Grønbaek, H.; Møller, H.J.; Støy, S.; Thomsen, K.L.; Dige, A.K.; Agnholt, J.; Hamilton-Dutoit, S.; Thiel, S.; Vilstrup, H. Hepatic macrophage activation and the LPS pathway in patients with alcoholic hepatitis: A prospective cohort study. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 2014, 109, 1749–1756. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  42. Wheeler, M.D. Endotoxin and Kupffer cell activation in alcoholic liver disease. Alcohol Res. Health 2003, 27, 300–306. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  43. Fukui, H. Relation of endotoxin, endotoxin binding proteins and macrophages to severe alcoholic liver injury and multiple organ failure. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 2005, 29 (Suppl. 11), 172S–179S. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  44. Ganne-Carrié, N.; Nahon, P. Hepatocellular carcinoma in the setting of alcohol-related liver disease. J. Hepatol. 2019, 70, 284–293. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  45. Teschke, R. Alcoholic Liver Disease: Alcohol Metabolism, Cascade of Molecular Mechanisms, Cellular Targets, and Clinical Aspects. Biomedicines 2018, 6, 106. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  46. Hu, W.; Feng, Z.; Eveleigh, J.; Iyer, G.; Pan, J.; Amin, S.; Chung, F.L.; Tang, M.S. The major lipid peroxidation product, trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, preferentially forms DNA adducts at codon 249 of human p53 gene, a unique mutational hotspot in hepatocellular carcinoma. Carcinogenesis 2002, 23, 1781–1789. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  47. Bertola, A.; Park, O.; Gao, B. Chronic plus binge ethanol feeding synergistically induces neutrophil infiltration and liver injury in mice: A critical role for E-selectin. Hepatology 2013, 58, 1814–1823. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  48. Rajkovic, I.A.; Williams, R. Abnormalities of neutrophil phagocytosis, intracellular killing and metabolic activity in alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis. Hepatology 1986, 6, 252–262. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  49. Li, M.; He, Y.; Zhou, Z.; Ramirez, T.; Gao, Y.; Gao, Y.; Ross, R.A.; Cao, H.; Cai, Y.; Xu, M.; et al. MicroRNA-223 ameliorates alcoholic liver injury by inhibiting the IL-6-p47(phox)-oxidative stress pathway in neutrophils. Gut 2017, 66, 705–715. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  50. Gao, B.; Ahmad, M.F.; Nagy, L.E.; Tsukamoto, H. Inflammatory pathways in alcoholic steatohepatitis. J. Hepatol. 2019, 70, 249–259. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  51. Santiesteban-Lores, L.E.; Carneiro, M.C.; Isaac, L.; Bavia, L. Complement System in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease. Immunol. Lett. 2021, 236, 37–50. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  52. Cohen, J.I.; Roychowdhury, S.; McMullen, M.R.; Stavitsky, A.B.; Nagy, L.E. Complement and alcoholic liver disease: Role of C1q in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. Gastroenterology 2010, 139, 664–674. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  53. Shen, H.; French, B.A.; Liu, H.; Tillman, B.C.; French, S.W. Increased activity of the complement system in the liver of patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Exp. Mol. Pathol. 2014, 97, 338–344. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  54. Bavia, L.; de Castro, Í.A.; Cogliati, B.; Dettoni, J.B.; Alves, V.A.; Isaac, L. Complement C5 controls liver lipid profile, promotes liver homeostasis and inflammation in C57BL/6 genetic background. Immunobiology 2016, 221, 822–832. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  55. Cohen, J.I.; Chen, X.; Nagy, L.E. Redox signaling and the innate immune system in alcoholic liver disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal 2011, 15, 523–534. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  56. Dai, Q.; Zhang, J.; Pruett, S.B. Ethanol alters cellular activation and CD14 partitioning in lipid rafts. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2005, 332, 37–42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  57. Pruett, S.B.; Schwab, C.; Zheng, Q.; Fan, R. Suppression of innate immunity by acute ethanol administration: A global perspective and a new mechanism beginning with inhibition of signaling through TLR3. J. Immunol. 2004, 173, 2715–2724. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  58. Leclercq, S.; Matamoros, S.; Cani, P.D.; Neyrinck, A.M.; Jamar, F.; Stärkel, P.; Windey, K.; Tremaroli, V.; Bäckhed, F.; Verbeke, K.; et al. Intestinal permeability, gut-bacterial dysbiosis, and behavioral markers of alcohol-dependence severity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2014, 111, E4485–E4493. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  59. Chen, P.; Torralba, M.; Tan, J.; Embree, M.; Zengler, K.; Stärkel, P.; van Pijkeren, J.P.; DePew, J.; Loomba, R.; Ho, S.B.; et al. Supplementation of saturated long-chain fatty acids maintains intestinal eubiosis and reduces ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. Gastroenterology 2015, 148, 203–214.e16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  60. Szabo, G.; Petrasek, J. Gut-liver axis and sterile signals in the development of alcoholic liver disease. Alcohol Alcohol. 2017, 52, 414–424. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  61. Park, B.S.; Song, D.H.; Kim, H.M.; Choi, B.S.; Lee, H.; Lee, J.O. The structural basis of lipopolysaccharide recognition by the TLR4-MD-2 complex. Nature 2009, 458, 1191–1195. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  62. Jiang, X.; Kanda, T.; Tanaka, T.; Wu, S.; Nakamoto, S.; Imazeki, F.; Yokosuka, O. Lipopolysaccharide blocks induction of unfolded protein response in human hepatoma cell lines. Immunol. Lett. 2013, 152, 8–15. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  63. Petrasek, J.; Bala, S.; Csak, T.; Lippai, D.; Kodys, K.; Menashy, V.; Barrieau, M.; Min, S.Y.; Kurt-Jones, E.A.; Szabo, G. IL-1 receptor antagonist ameliorates inflammasome-dependent alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice. J. Clin. Investig. 2012, 122, 3476–3489. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  64. Singal, A.K.; Bailey, S.M. Cellular Abnormalities and Emerging Biomarkers in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease. Gene Expr. 2018, 19, 49–60. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  65. Kalsi, J.; Delacroix, D.L.; Hodgson, H.J. IgA in alcoholic cirrhosis. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 1983, 52, 499–504. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  66. Massonnet, B.; Delwail, A.; Ayrault, J.M.; Chagneau-Derrode, C.; Lecron, J.C.; Silvain, C. Increased immunoglobulin A in alcoholic liver cirrhosis: Exploring the response of B cells to Toll-like receptor 9 activation. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 2009, 158, 115–124. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  67. Allison, M.E.; Hodgson, H.J. Regulation of peripheral blood B-cell IgA production in alcoholic cirrhosis. J. Clin. Lab. Immunol. 1989, 30, 127–130. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  68. Enomoto, N.; Takei, Y.; Kitamura, T.; Hirose, M.; Ikejima, K.; Sato, N. Estriol enhances lipopolysaccharide-induced increases in nitric oxide production by Kupffer cells via mechanisms dependent on endotoxin. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 2002, 26 (Suppl. 8), 66S–69S. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  69. Shalapour, S.; Lin, X.J.; Bastian, I.N.; Brain, J.; Burt, A.D.; Aksenov, A.A.; Vrbanac, A.F.; Li, W.; Perkins, A.; Matsutani, T.; et al. Inflammation-induced IgA+ cells dismantle anti-liver cancer immunity. Nature 2017, 551, 340–345. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  70. Pfister, D.; Núñez, N.G.; Pinyol, R.; Govaere, O.; Pinter, M.; Szydlowska, M.; Gupta, R.; Qiu, M.; Deczkowska, A.; Weiner, A.; et al. NASH limits anti-tumour surveillance in immunotherapy-treated HCC. Nature 2021, 592, 450–456. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  71. Marra, F.; Tacke, F. Roles for chemokines in liver disease. Gastroenterology 2014, 147, 577–594.e1. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  72. Sheron, N.; Bird, G.; Koskinas, J.; Portmann, B.; Ceska, M.; Lindley, I.; Williams, R. Circulating and tissue levels of the neutrophil chemotaxin interleukin-8 are elevated in severe acute alcoholic hepatitis, and tissue levels correlate with neutrophil infiltration. Hepatology 1993, 18, 41–46. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  73. Afford, S.C.; Fisher, N.C.; Neil, D.A.; Fear, J.; Brun, P.; Hubscher, S.G.; Adams, D.H. Distinct patterns of chemokine expression are associated with leukocyte recruitment in alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis. J. Pathol. 1998, 186, 82–89. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  74. Wang, Z.; Li, B.; Jiang, H.; Ma, Y.; Bao, Y.; Zhu, X.; Xia, H.; Jin, Y. IL-8 exacerbates alcohol-induced fatty liver disease via the Akt/HIF-1α pathway in human IL-8-expressing mice. Cytokine 2021, 138, 155402. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  75. Affò, S.; Morales-Ibanez, O.; Rodrigo-Torres, D.; Altamirano, J.; Blaya, D.; Dapito, D.H.; Millán, C.; Coll, M.; Caviglia, J.M.; Arroyo, V.; et al. CCL20 mediates lipopolysaccharide induced liver injury and is a potential driver of inflammation and fibrosis in alcoholic hepatitis. Gut 2014, 63, 1782–1792. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  76. Yunna, C.; Mengru, H.; Lei, W.; Weidong, C. Macrophage M1/M2 polarization. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2020, 877, 173090. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  77. Degré, D.; Lemmers, A.; Gustot, T.; Ouziel, R.; Trépo, E.; Demetter, P.; Verset, L.; Quertinmont, E.; Vercruysse, V.; Le Moine, O.; et al. Hepatic expression of CCL2 in alcoholic liver disease is associated with disease severity and neutrophil infiltrates. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 2012, 169, 302–310. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  78. Kumar, N.; Aggarwal, S.R.; Anand, B.S. Comparison of truncal hair distribution in alcoholic liver disease and alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2001, 16, 855–856. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  79. Eagon, P.K.; Elm, M.S.; Tadic, S.D.; Nanji, A.A. Downregulation of nuclear sex steroid receptor activity correlates with severity of alcoholic liver injury. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 2001, 281, G342–G349. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  80. Kanda, T.; Steele, R.; Ray, R.; Ray, R.B. Hepatitis C virus core protein augments androgen receptor-mediated signaling. J. Virol. 2008, 82, 11066–11072. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  81. Innes, H.; Buch, S.; Hutchinson, S.; Guha, I.N.; Morling, J.R.; Barnes, E.; Irving, W.; Forrest, E.; Pedergnana, V.; Goldberg, D.; et al. Genome-Wide Association Study for Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis Identifies Risk Loci in MARC1 and HNRNPUL1. Gastroenterology 2020, 159, 1276–1289.e7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  82. Nunes Dos Santos, K.; Florentino, R.M.; França, A.; Lima Filho, A.C.M.; Santos, M.L.D.; Missiaggia, D.; Fonseca, M.C.; Brasil Costa, I.; Vidigal, P.V.T.; Nathanson, M.H.; et al. Polymorphism in the Promoter Region of NFE2L2 Gene Is a Genetic Marker of Susceptibility to Cirrhosis Associated with Alcohol Abuse. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 3589. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  83. Buch, S.; Stickel, F.; Trépo, E.; Way, M.; Herrmann, A.; Nischalke, H.D.; Brosch, M.; Rosendahl, J.; Berg, T.; Ridinger, M.; et al. A genome-wide association study confirms PNPLA3 and identifies TM6SF2 and MBOAT7 as risk loci for alcohol-related cirrhosis. Nat. Genet. 2015, 47, 1443–1448. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  84. Romeo, S.; Kozlitina, J.; Xing, C.; Pertsemlidis, A.; Cox, D.; Pennacchio, L.A.; Boerwinkle, E.; Cohen, J.C.; Hobbs, H.H. Genetic variation in PNPLA3 confers susceptibility to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Nat. Genet. 2008, 40, 1461–1465. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  85. Wang, P.; Wu, C.; Li, Y.; Gong, Y.; Shen, N. PNPLA3 rs738409 is not associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and persistent infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in HBV-related subjects: A case-control study and meta-analysis on Asians. Gene 2020, 742, 144585. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  86. Nakamura, M.; Kanda, T.; Nakamoto, S.; Miyamura, T.; Jiang, X.; Wu, S.; Yokosuka, O. No correlation between PNPLA3 rs738409 genotype and fatty liver and hepatic cirrhosis in Japanese patients with HCV. PLoS ONE 2013, 8, e81312. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  87. Masuzaki, R.; Kanda, T.; Sasaki, R.; Matsumoto, N.; Ogawa, M.; Matsuoka, S.; Karp, S.J.; Moriyama, M. Noninvasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis: Current and Future Clinical and Molecular Perspectives. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 4906. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  88. Seki, E.; Brenner, D.A. Recent advancement of molecular mechanisms of liver fibrosis. J. Hepatobiliary Pancreat. Sci. 2015, 22, 512–518. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  89. Xu, L.; Hui, A.Y.; Albanis, E.; Arthur, M.J.; O’Byrne, S.M.; Blaner, W.S.; Mukherjee, P.; Friedman, S.L.; Eng, F.J. Human hepatic stellate cell lines, LX-1 and LX-2: New tools for analysis of hepatic fibrosis. Gut 2005, 54, 142–151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  90. Sasaki, R.; Devhare, P.B.; Steele, R.; Ray, R.; Ray, R.B. Hepatitis C virus-induced CCL5 secretion from macrophages activates hepatic stellate cells. Hepatology 2017, 66, 746–757. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  91. Devhare, P.B.; Sasaki, R.; Shrivastava, S.; Di Bisceglie, A.M.; Ray, R.; Ray, R.B. Exosome-Mediated Intercellular Communication between Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Hepatocytes and Hepatic Stellate Cells. J. Virol. 2017, 91, e02225-16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  92. Sasaki, R.; Devhare, P.; Ray, R.B.; Ray, R. Hepatitis C virus-induced tumor-initiating cancer stem-like cells activate stromal fibroblasts in a xenograft tumor model. Hepatology 2017, 66, 1766–1778. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  93. Su, J.; Morgani, S.M.; David, C.J.; Wang, Q.; Er, E.E.; Huang, Y.H.; Basnet, H.; Zou, Y.; Shu, W.; Soni, R.K.; et al. TGF-β orchestrates fibrogenic and developmental EMTs via the RAS effector RREB1. Nature 2020, 577, 566–571. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  94. Koerber, K.; Sass, G.; Kiemer, A.K.; Vollmar, A.M.; Tiegs, G. In vivo regulation of inducible no synthase in immune-mediated liver injury in mice. Hepatology 2002, 36, 1061–1069. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  95. Taylor, J.L.; Grossberg, S.E. The effects of interferon-alpha on the production and action of other cytokines. Semin. Oncol. 1998, 25, 23–29. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  96. Neubauer, K.; Lindhorst, A.; Tron, K.; Ramadori, G.; Saile, B. Decrease of PECAM-1-gene-expression induced by proinflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha is reversed by TGF-beta in sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic mononuclear phagocytes. BMC Physiol. 2008, 8, 9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  97. Zhao, H.; Zhu, P.; Han, T.; Ye, Q.; Xu, C.; Wu, L.; Liu, F.; Yin, W.; Li, Z.; Guo, Y. Clinical characteristics analysis of 1180 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 2020, 34, e23075. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  98. Corrao, G.; Bagnardi, V.; Zambon, A.; La Vecchia, C. A meta-analysis of alcohol consumption and the risk of 15 diseases. Prev. Med. 2004, 38, 613–619. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  99. Turati, F.; Galeone, C.; Rota, M.; Pelucchi, C.; Negri, E.; Bagnardi, V.; Corrao, G.; Boffetta, P.; La Vecchia, C. Alcohol and liver cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Ann. Oncol. 2014, 25, 1526–1535. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  100. Petrick, J.L.; Campbell, P.T.; Koshiol, J.; Thistle, J.E.; Andreotti, G.; Beane-Freeman, L.E.; Buring, J.E.; Chan, A.T.; Chong, D.Q.; Doody, M.M.; et al. Tobacco, alcohol use and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: The Liver Cancer Pooling Project. Br. J. Cancer 2018, 118, 1005–1012. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  101. McGlynn, K.A.; Petrick, J.L.; El-Serag, H.B. Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatology 2021, 73 (Suppl. 1), 4–13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  102. Yang, J.; Trépo, E.; Nahon, P.; Cao, Q.; Moreno, C.; Letouzé, E.; Imbeaud, S.; Bayard, Q.; Gustot, T.; Deviere, J.; et al. A 17-Beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 13 Variant Protects from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development in Alcoholic Liver Disease. Hepatology 2019, 70, 231–240. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  103. Yang, J.; Trépo, E.; Nahon, P.; Cao, Q.; Moreno, C.; Letouzé, E.; Imbeaud, S.; Gustot, T.; Deviere, J.; Debette, S.; et al. PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 variants as risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma across various etiologies and severity of underlying liver diseases. Int. J. Cancer 2019, 144, 533–544. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  104. Ohhira, M.; Fujimoto, Y.; Matsumoto, A.; Ohtake, T.; Ono, M.; Kohgo, Y. Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with alcoholic liver disease: A clinicopathological study and genetic polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 1996, 20 (Suppl. 9), 378A–382A. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  105. Bagnardi, V.; Rota, M.; Botteri, E.; Tramacere, I.; Islami, F.; Fedirko, V.; Scotti, L.; Jenab, M.; Turati, F.; Pasquali, E.; et al. Alcohol consumption and site-specific cancer risk: A comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis. Br. J. Cancer 2015, 112, 580–593. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  106. Avinçsal, M.O.; Shinomiya, H.; Teshima, M.; Kubo, M.; Otsuki, N.; Kyota, N.; Sasaki, R.; Zen, Y.; Nibu, K.I. Impact of alcohol dehydrogenase-aldehyde dehydrogenase polymorphism on clinical outcome in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. Head Neck 2018, 40, 770–777. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  107. Hidaka, A.; Sasazuki, S.; Matsuo, K.; Ito, H.; Sawada, N.; Shimazu, T.; Yamaji, T.; Iwasaki, M.; Inoue, M.; Tsugane, S.; et al. Genetic polymorphisms of ADH1B, ADH1C and ALDH2, alcohol consumption, and the risk of gastric cancer: The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study. Carcinogenesis 2015, 36, 223–231. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  108. Oze, I.; Matsuo, K.; Suzuki, T.; Kawase, T.; Watanabe, M.; Hiraki, A.; Ito, H.; Hosono, S.; Ozawa, T.; Hatooka, S.; et al. Impact of multiple alcohol dehydrogenase gene polymorphisms on risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancers in a Japanese population. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 2009, 18, 3097–3102. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  109. Minegishi, Y.; Tsukino, H.; Muto, M.; Goto, K.; Gemma, A.; Tsugane, S.; Kudoh, S.; Nishiwaki, Y.; Esumi, H. Susceptibility to lung cancer and genetic polymorphisms in the alcohol metabolite-related enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase 3, aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, and cytochrome P450 2E1 in the Japanese population. Cancer 2007, 110, 353–362. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  110. Hayashi, M.; Kanda, T.; Nakamura, M.; Miyamura, T.; Yasui, S.; Nakamoto, S.; Wu, S.; Arai, M.; Imazeki, F.; Yokosuka, O. Acute liver injury in a patient with alcohol dependence: A case resembling autoimmune hepatitis or drug-induced liver injury. Case Rep. Gastroenterol. 2014, 8, 129–133. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  111. Bidlack, J.M. Mixed κ/μ partial opioid agonists as potential treatments for cocaine dependence. Adv. Pharmacol. 2014, 69, 387–418. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  112. Mueller, S.; Luderer, M.; Zhang, D.; Meulien, D.; Brach, B.S.; Schou, M.B. Open-label Study with Nalmefene as Needed Use in Alcohol-Dependent Patients with Evidence of Elevated Liver Stiffness and/or Hepatic Steatosis. Alcohol Alcohol. 2020, 55, 63–70. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Figure 1. Schematic presentation depicting potential steps leading to liver pathogenesis from alcohol abuse. ALDH, aldehyde dehydrogenase; ADH, alcohol dehydrogenase; MEOS, microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system; CYP2E1, cytochrome P450IIE1; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL-1ß, interleukin-1ß; IL-8, interleukin-8; TGF-ß, transforming growth factor β1; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma.
Figure 1. Schematic presentation depicting potential steps leading to liver pathogenesis from alcohol abuse. ALDH, aldehyde dehydrogenase; ADH, alcohol dehydrogenase; MEOS, microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system; CYP2E1, cytochrome P450IIE1; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL-1ß, interleukin-1ß; IL-8, interleukin-8; TGF-ß, transforming growth factor β1; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma.
Ijms 23 09679 g001
Figure 2. Molecular mechanisms: the connections between alcohol consumption and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Figure 2. Molecular mechanisms: the connections between alcohol consumption and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Ijms 23 09679 g002
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Sasaki-Tanaka, R.; Ray, R.; Moriyama, M.; Ray, R.B.; Kanda, T. Molecular Changes in Relation to Alcohol Consumption and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 9679. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179679

AMA Style

Sasaki-Tanaka R, Ray R, Moriyama M, Ray RB, Kanda T. Molecular Changes in Relation to Alcohol Consumption and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022; 23(17):9679. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179679

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sasaki-Tanaka, Reina, Ranjit Ray, Mitsuhiko Moriyama, Ratna B. Ray, and Tatsuo Kanda. 2022. "Molecular Changes in Relation to Alcohol Consumption and Hepatocellular Carcinoma" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23, no. 17: 9679. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179679

APA Style

Sasaki-Tanaka, R., Ray, R., Moriyama, M., Ray, R. B., & Kanda, T. (2022). Molecular Changes in Relation to Alcohol Consumption and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(17), 9679. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179679

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop