mouse study shows how alcohol may cause cancer
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

according to a mouse study

Mouse study shows how alcohol may cause cancer

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Mouse study shows how alcohol may cause cancer

Scientists gave lab mice ethanol to study the link between alcohol and cancer.
Paris - Arab Today

Alcohol damages the DNA of stem cells responsible for producing new blood, according to a mouse study which may explain the link between drinking and cancer, scientists said on Wednesday.

Health watchdogs have long warned that alcohol consumption contributes to seven types of cancer -- of the mouth, throat, larynx or voice box, oesophagus or food pipe, breast, liver and bowel.

What was not well understood was: how?

For the new study, published in the science journal Nature, researchers gave lab mice diluted alcohol, known chemically as ethanol.

They then used chromosome and DNA analysis to examine genetic damage caused by acetaldehyde, a chemical produced when the body processes alcohol.

"They found that acetaldehyde can break and damage DNA within blood stem cells, leading to rearranged chromosomes and permanently altering the DNA sequences within these cells," Cancer Research UK, which helped fund the research, said in a statement.

"It is important to understand how the DNA blueprint within stem cells is damaged because when healthy stem cells become faulty, they can give rise to cancer."

DNA damage can lead to cell death, but can also trigger the body's natural repair mechanisms. However, if the DNA is repaired incorrectly, it can lead to cancer.

"While some damage occurs by chance, our findings suggest that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of this damage," said lead author Ketan Patel of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge.

The team also examined how the body fights against alcohol damage using a family of enzymes called ALDH, which turn acetaldehyde into acetate, which cells can use as energy.

Millions of people -- particularly from Southeast Asia -- either lack these enzymes or carry faulty versions, said the team. And mice lacking ALDH, given alcohol, suffered four times as much DNA damage.

"Our study highlights that not being able to process alcohol effectively can lead to an even higher risk of alcohol-related DNA damage and therefore certain cancers," said Patel.

It may be a contributor to an "extremely high prevalence" of throat cancer in countries such as China, commented Malcolm Alison of the Queen Mary University of London, who was not involved in the study.

Commentators welcomed the paper's contribution to the knowledge base.

"This is beautiful work, which puts our finger on the molecular basis for the link between alcohol and increased cancer risk and stem cells. Very important," said Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz of the University of Cambridge.

 

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

GMT 08:35 2017 Friday ,15 December

Four French children killed

GMT 10:15 2017 Thursday ,26 October

Paris city bikes go electric

GMT 11:05 2017 Saturday ,16 September

on 'plastic digesting' caterpillars

GMT 20:15 2017 Tuesday ,05 September

French schools cut class sizes for deprived areas

GMT 11:43 2017 Wednesday ,11 January

Scientists copy spider silk in lab
Arab Today, arab today

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

mouse study shows how alcohol may cause cancer mouse study shows how alcohol may cause cancer

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

mouse study shows how alcohol may cause cancer mouse study shows how alcohol may cause cancer

 



GMT 13:49 2017 Thursday ,08 June

Boko Haram kills 11 in NE Nigeria attacks: police

GMT 09:08 2017 Monday ,11 September

Palestinian court grants bail to prominent activist

GMT 00:06 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Emirates signs agreement for 36 additional A380s

GMT 09:59 2018 Wednesday ,10 January

Pakistan reiterates solidarity with Saudi Arabia

GMT 23:01 2016 Wednesday ,30 November

21 killed in artillery shelling of eastern Aleppo

GMT 09:22 2016 Monday ,10 October

US troops in Kuwait came under 'suicide' attack

GMT 21:14 2017 Tuesday ,21 February

Tatas will lead, not follow

GMT 11:24 2017 Wednesday ,15 February

ISIS kidnapped 16 civilians from Anbar

GMT 19:30 2018 Wednesday ,31 October

King congratulates Antigua and Barbuda Governor-General

GMT 00:05 2017 Thursday ,28 December

Guterres extends mandate of UN-backed Lebanon tribunal

GMT 01:49 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

Iran considered dropping Turkey to fight the Russian

GMT 00:02 2017 Friday ,01 September

July24th-August23rd
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday