RXR may regulate acetaldehyde oxidation to acetate and its clearance. ALDH mRNAs (especially ALDH1 mRNA) are reduced in null mice indicating a possible direct regulation that would parallel with the above mentioned finding that human ALDH promoter responds to RXR. Increased ADH1 activity accounts for the rapid oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde; reduced ALDH activity observed in RXR deficient mice impairs the further oxidation to acetate sensitizing the mice to the ethanol-induced damage.
