Acetaldehyde targets superoxide dismutase 2 in liver cancer cells inducing transient enzyme impairment and a rapid transcriptional recovery.

Alcohol is undoubtedly, the main toxic agent that people consume by recreation and the abuse is associated with liver damage, mainly by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and the toxic effects of its first metabolite acetaldehyde. It is known that acetaldehyde targets mitochondria inducing redox imbalance and oxidative stress. Mitochondrial superoxide dismutase transforms superoxide radical into hydrogen peroxide, which in addition, is transformed in water by other enzymes.