Role of HIF-1α in Alcohol-Mediated Multiple Organ Dysfunction

• Published in: Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2018-12, Vol.8 (4), p.170
• Main Authors: Morris, Niya L, Yeligar, Samantha M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Drinking - genetics; Alcohol use; Alzheimer's disease; Angiogenesis; Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator - genetics; Brain damage; Ethanol; Ethanol - adverse effects; Ethanol - toxicity; HIF-1α; Humans; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit - genetics; Hypoxia-inducible factor 1a; Inflammation; Insulin; Insulin-like growth factors; Kinases; Liver; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; Metabolism; Motor ability; Multiple Organ Failure - chemically induced; Multiple Organ Failure - genetics; Multiple Organ Failure - pathology; Nitric oxide; Oxidative stress; Parkinson's disease; Proteins; Review; Transcription factors; Traumatic brain injury; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Vascular endothelial growth factor
• ISSN: 2218-273X; 2218-273X
• DOI: 10.3390/biom8040170

Excess alcohol consumption is a global crisis contributing to over 3 million alcohol-related deaths per year worldwide and economic costs exceeding $200 billion dollars, which include productivity losses, healthcare, and other effects (e.g., property damages). Both clinical and experimental models have shown that excessive alcohol consumption results in multiple organ injury. Although alcohol metabolism occurs primarily in the liver, alcohol exposure can lead to pathophysiological conditions in multiple organs and tissues, including the brain, lungs, adipose, liver, and intestines. Understanding the mechanisms by which alcohol-mediated organ dysfunction occurs could help to identify new therapeutic approaches to mitigate the detrimental effects of alcohol misuse. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 is a transcription factor comprised of HIF-1α and HIF-1β subunits that play a critical role in alcohol-mediated organ dysfunction. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent studies examining the relationship between HIF-1α and alcohol consumption as it relates to multiple organ injury and potential therapies to mitigate alcohol's effects.