The role of retinoid X receptor alpha in regulating alcohol metabolism.

There is substantial overlap in retinol and alcohol metabolism. Mice that lack retinoic acid (RA) receptor retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) expression in the liver are more susceptible to alcoholic liver disease. To investigate the interaction between RXRalpha and alcoholic liver disease, ethanol metabolism was studied in hepatocyte RXRalpha-deficient [RXRalpha knockout (KO)] mice.