Enzyme Linked to Alcoholism and Liver Disease – Mirage News

Report on a Novel Therapeutic Target for Alcohol-Related Diseases and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 3

Executive Summary

A recent study from the University of Colorado Anschutz, published in Nature Metabolism, has identified a critical link between alcohol consumption, fructose metabolism, and liver disease. The research demonstrates that inhibiting the enzyme ketohexokinase (KHK) can significantly reduce alcohol cravings and prevent alcohol-induced liver damage. These findings present a promising therapeutic pathway that directly supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Key Research Findings

• Metabolic Hijacking: Alcohol consumption triggers a metabolic pathway that results in the endogenous production of fructose.
• Central Role of KHK Enzyme: The enzyme ketohexokinase (KHK) is the primary driver of this alcohol-induced fructose production.
• Reinforcement of Harmful Behavior: The KHK-driven process was found to reinforce alcohol consumption habits and accelerate associated liver injury.
• Therapeutic Intervention in Preclinical Models: In mouse models, blocking the KHK enzyme, either genetically or through medication, led to two significant outcomes:
  • A marked reduction in voluntary alcohol consumption and diminished activity in brain regions associated with addiction.
  • Complete protection against alcohol-induced liver injury, preventing fat accumulation, inflammation, and scarring.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

This research provides a direct and actionable strategy for advancing specific targets within SDG 3.

1. Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promote mental health.
   • The development of KHK inhibitors could serve as a novel treatment for alcohol-associated liver disease, a significant NCD, thereby helping to reduce premature mortality.
   • By reducing alcohol cravings, this approach also addresses the behavioral and mental health aspects of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), promoting overall well-being.
2. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including the harmful use of alcohol.
   • The study identifies a new physiological target for treating alcohol addiction. A therapy that reduces the reinforcing effects of alcohol consumption would be a major advancement in strengthening treatment for its harmful use.

Conclusion and Broader Potential

The discovery of the KHK enzyme’s role in alcohol-related harm establishes a new frontier for medical intervention. By targeting a fundamental metabolic pathway, this approach holds significant promise for public health.

• Unified Treatment Strategy: The research highlights that both alcohol-associated liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) share fructose-driven mechanisms. Therefore, therapies targeting KHK could benefit a broad spectrum of patients with liver diseases linked to either alcohol or diet.
• Contribution to Global Health: By providing a potential new tool to combat liver disease and alcohol addiction, this research contributes directly to the global effort to reduce the burden of NCDs and substance abuse, aligning perfectly with the objectives of SDG 3.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The research discussed in the article directly addresses issues related to Sustainable Development Goal 3.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s central theme is the discovery of a new therapeutic target for treating alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). By focusing on improving health outcomes, preventing disease, and developing new treatments for addiction and liver damage, the research aligns perfectly with the core objective of SDG 3, which is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus on alcohol addiction and liver disease, two specific targets under SDG 3 can be identified:

• Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

  The article directly relates to this target by exploring a potential new treatment for “alcohol use disorder (AUD).” The research identifies the enzyme KHK as a key driver in reinforcing “alcohol consumption habits” and “drinking behavior.” The finding that mice lacking this enzyme showed “markedly lower alcohol inclination and consumption” points to a new strategy for treating alcohol addiction, which is a core component of this target.

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

  Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a non-communicable disease that leads to premature mortality. The research offers a new avenue for its prevention and treatment. The article states that when the KHK enzyme was blocked, “alcohol-induced liver injury appeared to be non-existent,” and livers showed “reduced fat accumulation, inflammation and scarring.” This directly addresses the “prevention and treatment” aspect of this target, aiming to halt the progression of a serious non-communicable disease. Furthermore, AUD is a mental health condition, so addressing it also contributes to promoting well-being.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention official SDG indicators, but it implies ways to measure progress that align with them.

• Implied Indicators for Target 3.5:

  The official indicator is 3.5.2 (Harmful use of alcohol). The article implies measurements related to this by focusing on outcomes that would reduce the harmful use of alcohol. The research observed and measured “alcohol inclination and consumption” and “drinking behavior” in mice. A reduction in these metrics, as seen in the study where mice “drank less alcohol across multiple tests,” serves as a direct proxy for measuring progress in treating substance abuse.

• Implied Indicators for Target 3.4:

  The official indicator is 3.4.1 (Mortality rate attributed to… non-communicable disease). The article implies measurements for this by focusing on the physiological markers of ALD, which is a major contributor to mortality. The study measured “liver damage,” “fat accumulation, inflammation and scarring.” The finding that blocking the enzyme could “halt or even prevent alcohol-related liver disease progression” is a direct measure of preventing a non-communicable disease, which in turn would reduce the mortality rate associated with it.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: miragenews.com