Analysis of alcoholics' brains suggests treatment target

“This protein may play a role in the reward circuitry,” said Gu. “If that is true, a drug to block these effects could reduce dependence on alcohol.”

In addition to their findings about beta-catenin, the scientists also found higher levels of Myc, a protein that at high levels can cause a transformation of cells that leads to cancer. The findings could help explain a link between alcohol and cancer.

“The results may help to explain why excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer,” said Gu. “While an association has been established between alcohol consumption and various cancers, the mechanism remains obscure. Because the production of Myc in the cell is regulated by beta-catenin, our findings may suggest that alcohol activates beta-catenin production; that in turn activates Myc production, and that ultimately leads to cell transformation and cancer.”

The research was supported by a grant from the Mr. and Mrs. Tab Williams Jr. and Family Neuroscience Research and Program Development Endowment.

Co-researchers were Ali M. Al-Housseini, M.D., Thamil Mani Sivanandam, Ph.D., and Edward L. Bradbury, B.A., all with Wake Forest, and Rudi K. Tannenberg, Ph.D., and Peter R. Dodd, Ph.D., at the University of Queensland in Australia.

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