Organ-differential responses to ethanol and kynurenic acid in gene transcription

Excessive alcohol (ethanol) use has long been known to negatively affect human health. However, the molecular basis for the alcohol effect is incompletely understood. Moreover, consumption of alcohol is often mixed with kynurenic acid (KYNA), an abundant tryptophan metabolite produced during fermentation. The combined effect of ethanol and KYNA on host gene expression has not been investigated. Therefore, the current study used mice as the model to interrogate the impact of ethanol and/or KYNA on gene transcription.