Investigation of an acetaldehyde-hemoglobin adduct in alcoholics

It has been proposed that an ethanol-related adduct is formed with hemoglobin in chronic alcoholics. This proposal is based on the observation that alcoholics were found to have an elevation of minor hemoglobins but normal amounts of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Since acetaldehyde is believed to be the primary candidate involved in adduct formation, investigation was focused on this particular compound. This study describes the attempt to isolate and purify an acetaldehyde-hemoglobin adduct in alcoholics by cation-exchange chromatography and m-aminophenylboronic acid affinity chromatography for the purpose of characterization. Using acetaldehyde concentrations of 5 and 10 mM, an acetaldehyde adduct with hemoglobin was formed in vitro, isolated, and characterized. However, a similar adduct could not be isolated in vitro using a pharmacological concentration of 100 microM acetaldehyde nor could this adduct be isolated in human alcoholic subjects.