Epigenetic changes caused by binge drinking identified

Scientists, led by one of Indian-origin, have identified epigenetic protein changes caused by binge drinking, a discovery that could lead to new treatments for alcohol-related liver diseases.
"Our latest research shows that epigenetic modifications in histone structures occur within the liver as a result of heavy binge drinking," said Shivendra Shukla, Margaret Proctor Mulligan Professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and lead author of the study.
"Epigenetic alterations are changes in genes that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence or genetic code," Shukla said.
Histones are proteins that act like a spool to compact and organise the thread-like DNA strands that wrap around them. Histones work to protect the DNA strand and help it function correctly.

Although histone modification does occur naturally, Shukla and his team found that binge drinking results in unnatural modifications to histones. In turn, these changes adversely affect how a person's genetic code is interpreted and how it is regulated.
"Every response in the body is due to alterations in proteins," Shukla said.

"Binge drinking is an environmental trigger that negatively affects histones by altering the correct binding of DNA.
"The result is unnecessary replication in the copied structure. This initially causes inflammation and damage to the cells as they form, but it is also eventually the cause of more serious diseases such as cirrhosis and cancer," he said.

"It is important to specify that binge drinking should not be associated only with liver damage," Shukla said.
"Binge drinking can create an inflammatory response in the liver that is like a cluster bomb, sending out various damaging signals to other organ systems in the body.
"If those organs are working at a lower level of function, then a whole host of physiological processes are affected as a consequence of binge drinking," he said.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person's blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 grammes per cent or above.

This typically happens when men consume five or more drinks or women consume four or more drinks over a two-hour period.