<p>An Indian-origin researcher has identified epigenetic protein changes caused by binge drinking, a discovery that could lead to treatment for alcohol-related liver diseases.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Our research shows that epigenetic modifications in histone (protein) structures occur within the liver as a result of heavy binge drinking," explained lead researcher Shivendra Shukla, Margaret Proctor Mulligan professor at the University of Missouri's School of Medicine.<br /><br />Epigenetic alterations are changes in genes that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence or genetic code.<br /><br />Histones are proteins that act like a spool to compact and organise the thread-like DNA strands which wrap around them. Histones work to protect the DNA strand and help it function correctly.<br /><br />Although histone modification does occur naturally, Shukla and his team found that binge drinking results in unnatural modifications to histones.<br /><br />In turn, these changes adversely affect how a person's genetic code is interpreted and how it is regulated.<br /><br />"Every response in the body is due to alterations in proteins. Binge drinking is an environmental trigger that negatively affects histones by altering the correct binding of DNA," Shukla informed.<br /><br />"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 maintained.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"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," Shukla noted.<br /><br />The paper appeared in Hepatology International, the journal of the Asian Pacific Association for the study of the liver.</p>
<p>An Indian-origin researcher has identified epigenetic protein changes caused by binge drinking, a discovery that could lead to treatment for alcohol-related liver diseases.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Our research shows that epigenetic modifications in histone (protein) structures occur within the liver as a result of heavy binge drinking," explained lead researcher Shivendra Shukla, Margaret Proctor Mulligan professor at the University of Missouri's School of Medicine.<br /><br />Epigenetic alterations are changes in genes that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence or genetic code.<br /><br />Histones are proteins that act like a spool to compact and organise the thread-like DNA strands which wrap around them. Histones work to protect the DNA strand and help it function correctly.<br /><br />Although histone modification does occur naturally, Shukla and his team found that binge drinking results in unnatural modifications to histones.<br /><br />In turn, these changes adversely affect how a person's genetic code is interpreted and how it is regulated.<br /><br />"Every response in the body is due to alterations in proteins. Binge drinking is an environmental trigger that negatively affects histones by altering the correct binding of DNA," Shukla informed.<br /><br />"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 maintained.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"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," Shukla noted.<br /><br />The paper appeared in Hepatology International, the journal of the Asian Pacific Association for the study of the liver.</p>