Fig. 2.

mRNA expression levels of NOX2 and 15 antioxidant-related genes in 162 young adults. Students were divided into three alcohol-drinking groups (light: n = 63; moderate: n = 66; heavy: n = 33) by average weekly alcohol consumption. Only the SOD1 expression level was significantly downregulated in the heavier drinking group compared to any two of the three drinking groups. The NOX2 expression level was significantly upregulated in the moderate- and heavy-drinking groups compared to the light group. Expression levels of BNIP3, CCL5, EPHX2, GPX1, GPX7, MT3, NCF1, PDLIM1, PRDX6, and TTN were significantly downregulated in the heavier-drinking group between at least two of the three groups. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.001; n.s., not significant; Wilcoxon Kruskal–Wallis test).