Methods and compositions for reducing alcohol toxicity

A method for reducing the level of acetaldehyde in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a compound that modulates the expression of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in at least one cell of a subject.

A method for reducing acetaldehyde levels and/or increasing the rate of catabolism of acetaldehyde in at least one cell, comprising, administering an effective amount of a compound that modulates the expression, amount, or enzymatic activity of an acetaldehyde dehydrogenase found in at least one cell.

A method for reducing the level of acetaldehyde in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a compound that modulates the expression of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in a subject.

A method for reducing or preventing toxicity due to acetaldehyde accumulation in a subject, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound to increase the expression of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in at least one cell of a subject.

A method for treating, reducing or preventing toxicity due to acetaldehyde accumulation in a subject who consumes ethanol, comprising administering a compound to increase the amount of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity in at least one cell of a subject.

A method for increasing the gene expression of, the amount of, or the enzymatic activity of, at least one member of the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily comprising contacting at least one cell, at least one cell in a subject with a composition comprising at least a phase 2 inducer compound, or administering to a subject a composition comprising at least a phase 2 inducer compound, thereby increasing the gene expression of, the amount of, or the enzymatic activity of, at least one member of the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily in at least one cell, in at least one cell in a subject, or in the subject.

A method for increasing the gene expression of, the amount of, or the enzymatic activity of, at least one member of the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily comprising contacting at least one cell or at least one cell in a subject with a composition comprising at least a compound that induces NQO1, or administering to a subject a composition comprising at least a compound that induces NQO1, thereby increasing the gene expression of, the amount of, or the enzymatic activity of, at least one member of the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily in at least one cell, in at least one cell in a subject, or in the subject.

A method for increasing the gene expression of, the amount of, or the enzymatic activity of, at least one member of the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily comprising contacting at least one cell or at least one cell in a subject with a composition comprising at least a compound that upregulates at least one step in the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE transcription pathway or administering to a subject a composition comprises a compound that upregulates at least one step in the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE transcription pathway, increasing the gene expression of, the amount of, or the enzymatic activity of, at least one member of the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily in at least one cell, in at least one cell in a subject, or in the subject.

An assay for determining effectiveness of a compound in treating ethanol toxicity due to acetaldehyde accumulation, comprising, contacting a first cell with a compound to be tested, comparing the response of the first cell with the response of an identical second cell, and determining whether or not the tested compound increases the amount, the expression of, or the enzymatic activity of at least one member of the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily in the first cell compared to the second cell.