The measurement of acetaldehyde in human esophageal and gastric tissue and the effect of L-cysteine for reducing the incidence of esophageal and gastric cancers

• Project/Area Number: 17K15917
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Hatta Waku 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (30706932)
• Research Collaborator: Okata Hideki
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
• Keywords: アセトアルデヒド / L-システイン / L-システイン製剤

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We enrolled 10 subjects with active acetaldehyde dehydrogenase-2*1/*1 genotype and 10 subjects with the inactive acetaldehyde dehydrogenase-2*1/*2 genotype. In this study using L-cysteine and placebo lozenges, saliva and blood were collected and esophageal and gastric tissue was obtained after drinking. Then, the acetaldehyde and ethanol concentrations were measured. The acetaldehyde concentration of the saliva was significantly lower in those taking L-cysteine than in those taking the placebo. Acetaldehyde in the esophageal tissue was detected only in those taking L-cysteine lozenges.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまでにヒト生体内での食道組織からアセトアルデヒドを検出した報告はなく、本研究にてヒト生体内食道組織のアセトアルデヒドが初めて検出されたことは意義深い。L-システイン製剤投与例のみでアセトアルデヒドが検出されたことは意義深い結果である。これらより、食道組織へのアセトアルデヒドの曝露の経路として、これまでに最も有力と考えられてきた唾液の直接曝露とは異なる経路が存在する可能性が考えられた。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Detection of Acetaldehyde in the Esophageal Tissue among Healthy Male Subjects after Ethanol Drinking and Subsequent L-Cysteine Intake (2018)
  • Author(s): Okata H, Hatta W, Iijima K, Asanuma K, Tsuruya A, Asano N, Koike T, Hamada S, Nakayama T, Masamune A, Shimosegawa T.
  • Journal Title: The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine Volume: 244 Issue: 4 Pages: 317-325
  • DOI: 10.1620/tjem.244.317
  • NAID: 130006712062
  • ISSN: 0040-8727, 1349-3329
  • Peer Reviewed