CYP2D6*36GENE ARRANGEMENTS WITHIN THECYP2D6LOCUS: ASSOCIATION OFCYP2D6*36WITH POOR METABOLIZER STATUS

Pharmacogenetics of cytochrome P450 (CYP) in the elderly

The genetics of cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a very active area of multidisciplinary research, overlapping the interest of medicine, biology and pharmacology, being the CYP enzyme system responsible for the metabolism of more than 80% of the commercially available drugs. Variations in CYP encoding genes are responsible for inter-individual differences in CYP production or function, with severe clinical consequences as therapeutic failures (TFs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs), being ADRs worldwide primary causes of morbidity and mortality in elderly people. In fact, the prevalence of both TFs and ADRs strongly increased in the presence of multiple pharmacological treatments, a common status in subjects aging 65 years and over. The present article explored some basic concepts of human genetics that have important implications in the genetics of CYP. An attempted to transfer these basic concepts to the genetic data reported by the Home Page of The Human Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Allele Nomenclature Committee was also made, focusing on the current knowledge of CYP genetics. The status of what we know and what we need to know is the base for the clinical applications of pharmacogenetics, in which personalized drug treatments constituted the main aim, in particular in patients attending a geriatric ward.

Genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 enzymes influence metabolism of the antidepressant escitalopram and treatment response

AIMS

The antidepressant escitalopram (S-CIT) is metabolized by the cytochrome-P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP 2D6, 2C19 and 3A4. This study evaluated the impact of CYP2D6, 2C19 and 3A4 genetic polymorphisms on plasma concentrations of S-CIT and patient treatment response.

MATERIALS & METHODS

A total of 100 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder were recruited to the study and their depression symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The genetic polymorphisms *4, *5 and *10 on CYP2D6, *2, *3 and *17 on CYP2C19, and *18 on CYP3A4 were selected based on their function and respective allele frequencies in Asian populations. Polymorphisms were analyzed using the SNPstream genotyping system, PCR and direct sequencing methods. The steady-state serum concentrations of S-CIT and its metabolites S-desmethylcitalopram and S-didesmethylcitalopram were analyzed by HPLC. According to semiquantitative gene dose (SGD) and gene dose (GD) models for allele combinations of these polymorphisms, CYP2D6 was clustered into intermediate (0.5, 1 and 1.5 SGD) and extensive (2 SGD) metabolizers, while CYP2C19 was clustered into poor (0 GD) and extensive (1 and 2 GDs) metabolizers.

RESULTS

The group of patients with intermediate CYP2D6 metabolism (0.5 SGD) had a significantly higher frequency of remitters from major depressive disorder during the 8-week treatment (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, CYP2C19 poor metabolizers had significantly higher S-CIT serum levels than did extensive metabolizers at weeks 2, 4 and 8 (p < 0.05). The allele frequencies in CYP3A4*18 and CYP2C19*17 were too low to permit further subgroup analyses.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the genetic polymorphisms in CYP2C19 may be influencing S-CIT serum concentrations, and that specific CYP2D6 polymorphisms may be predicting patient treatment outcomes based on gene dosage analyses.

CYP2D7-2D6 hybrid tandems: identification of novel CYP2D6 duplication arrangements and implications for phenotype prediction

AIMS

Allelic variants of cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 (CYP2D6), such as gene deletion, duplication, multiplication and conversion, contribute to the wide range of CYP2D6 activity. Novel gene arrangements were discovered and characterized.

MATERIALS & METHODS

DNA from 32 Caucasian and 59 African-American duplication-positive subjects were analyzed by long-range PCR and genotyping to detect CYP2D7-2D6 hybrid tandem alleles. Novel allelic variants were sequenced and a strategy for the detection and analysis of hybrid genes was refined.

RESULTS

CYP2D7-2D6 hybrid tandem alleles were identified in one African-American and four Caucasian subjects. Three novel hybrid genes were found on CYP2D6*1 and CYP2D6*2 duplication backgrounds and designated CYP2D6*76, *77 and *78. CYP2D7 to 2D6 conversion occurred in introns 1 and 4, and exon 9. All carried a T-insertion in exon 1 abolishing activity. In Caucasians, four out of 33 (12%) of the duplication-positive alleles were hybrid tandems, three CYP2D6*77 + *2 and one CYP2D6*78 + *2. By contrast, in African-Americans only one of 60 duplication-positive alleles was identified as a hybrid tandem. This allele was designated CYP2D6*76 + *1.

CONCLUSION

Hybrid tandem alleles occur infrequently (<0.25%) in Caucasians, but may explain why not every subject with a CYP2D6 duplication presents with an ultrarapid metabolizer phenotype.

CYP2D6: novel genomic structures and alleles

OBJECTIVE

CYP2D6 is a polymorphic gene. It has been observed to be deleted, to be duplicated and to undergo recombination events involving the CYP2D7 pseudogene and surrounding sequences. The objective of this study was to discover the genomic structure of CYP2D6 recombinants that interfere with clinical genotyping platforms that are available today.

METHODS

Clinical samples containing rare homozygous CYP2D6 alleles, ambiguous readouts, and those with duplication signals and two different alleles were analyzed by long-range PCR amplification of individual genes, PCR fragment analysis, allele-specific primer extension assay, and DNA sequencing to characterize alleles and genomic structure.

RESULTS

Novel alleles, genomic structures, and the DNA sequence of these structures are described. Interestingly, in 49 of 50 DNA samples that had CYP2D6 gene duplications or multiplications where two alleles were detected, the chromosome containing the duplication or multiplication had identical tandem alleles.

CONCLUSION

Several new CYP2D6 alleles and genomic structures are described which will be useful for CYP2D6 genotyping. The findings suggest that the recombination events responsible for CYP2D6 duplications and multiplications are because of mechanisms other than interchromosomal crossover during meiosis.

Polymorphism of human cytochrome P450 enzymes and its clinical impact

Pharmacogenetics is the study of how interindividual variations in the DNA sequence of specific genes affect drug response. This article highlights current pharmacogenetic knowledge on important human drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450s (CYPs) to understand the large interindividual variability in drug clearance and responses in clinical practice. The human CYP superfamily contains 57 functional genes and 58 pseudogenes, with members of the 1, 2, and 3 families playing an important role in the metabolism of therapeutic drugs, other xenobiotics, and some endogenous compounds. Polymorphisms in the CYP family may have had the most impact on the fate of therapeutic drugs. CYP2D6, 2C19, and 2C9 polymorphisms account for the most frequent variations in phase I metabolism of drugs, since almost 80% of drugs in use today are metabolized by these enzymes. Approximately 5-14% of Caucasians, 0-5% Africans, and 0-1% of Asians lack CYP2D6 activity, and these individuals are known as poor metabolizers. CYP2C9 is another clinically significant enzyme that demonstrates multiple genetic variants with a potentially functional impact on the efficacy and adverse effects of drugs that are mainly eliminated by this enzyme. Studies into the CYP2C9 polymorphism have highlighted the importance of the CYP2C9*2 and *3 alleles. Extensive polymorphism also occurs in other CYP genes, such as CYP1A1, 2A6, 2A13, 2C8, 3A4, and 3A5. Since several of these CYPs (e.g., CYP1A1 and 1A2) play a role in the bioactivation of many procarcinogens, polymorphisms of these enzymes may contribute to the variable susceptibility to carcinogenesis. The distribution of the common variant alleles of CYP genes varies among different ethnic populations. Pharmacogenetics has the potential to achieve optimal quality use of medicines, and to improve the efficacy and safety of both prospective and currently available drugs. Further studies are warranted to explore the gene-dose, gene-concentration, and gene-response relationships for these important drug-metabolizing CYPs.

Cytochrome oxidase 2D6 gene polymorphism in primary open-angle glaucoma with various effects to ophthalmic timolol

AIMS

Timolol is used topically for the treatment of glaucoma and metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 in the liver. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that CYP 2D6 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with drug effects of ophthalmic timolol.

METHODS

A total of 133 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) subjects underwent the ophthalmic single timolol administration and the drug effects were observed, including lowering the effects of intraocular pressure (IOP) and side effects (i.e., appearing bradycardia). Eight SNPs of CYP2D6 were investigated in 73 subjects by a SNPstream genotyping system. The relationship between the effects of timolol and CYP2D6 Arg296Cys and Ser486Thr genotype distribution in these POAG subjects was analyzed.

RESULTS

Topical timolol administration had significant effect on IOP (P = 0.000) and heart rate (HR) (P = 0.000) in all 133 subjects, and individual ocular hypotensive effect of timolol varied between 0 and 23 mmHg. Individual effect of HR varied between -31 and 10 beats per minute, in the present study. According to SNP genotyping in 73 subjects, there was no significant difference of IOP between subjects with different CYP2D6 Arg296Cys (P = 0.308) or Ser486Thr genotypes (P = 0.741). The effect of timolol on HR was significantly different between subjects with different Arg296Cys genotypes (P = 0.046). Timolol-induced bradycardia tended to occur in subjects with Arg296Cys CT and TT genotype when compared with CC genotype (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

CYP2D6 SNP Arg296Cys appeared to be correlative with the intersubject variability seen with timolol in POAG subjects. Subjects with CC genotype trended to avoid timolol-induced bradycardia, and subjects with TT genotype trended to have poorer timolol-induced ocular hypotensive effects.

Population pharmacokinetic modelling of aripiprazole and its active metabolite, dehydroaripiprazole, in psychiatric patients

AIMS

The aims of this study were to develop a combined population pharmacokinetic model for both aripiprazole and its active metabolite, dehydroaripiprazole, in psychiatric patients and to identify to what extent the genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes contribute to the variability in pharmacokinetics (PK).

METHODS

A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using NONMEM software based on 141 plasma concentrations at steady state from 80 patients receiving multiple oral doses of aripiprazole (10-30 mg day(-1)).

RESULTS

A one-compartment model with first-order kinetics for aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole each was developed to describe simultaneously the concentration data. The absorption rate constant was fixed to 1.06 h(-1). The typical value of apparent distribution volume of aripiprazole was estimated to be 192 l. Covariate analysis showed that CYP2D6 genetic polymorphisms significantly influenced the apparent clearance of aripiprazole (CL/F), reducing the interindividual variability on CL/F from 37.8% CV (coefficient of variation) to 30.5%. The CL/F in the CYP2D6 IMs was approximately 60% of that in CYP2D6 EMs having two functional alleles. Based on the CYP2D6 genotype, the metabolic ratios were calculated at 0.20-0.34. However, the plasma concentration : dose ratios of dehydroaripiprazole were not different across the CYP2D6 genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

This population pharmacokinetic model provided an adequate fit to the data for both aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole in psychiatric patients. The usefulness of CYP genotyping as an aid to select the starting dose should be further investigated.

Genetic polymorphism in cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6): Population distribution of CYP2D6 activity

Cytochrome P-450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is involved in the metabolism of many therapeutic drugs even though the enzyme represents a small proportion of the total CYP content of human liver. In vivo phenotyping with probe drug substrates such as debrisoquine and dextromethorphan showed a clear separation between poor metabolizers (PM) and extensive metabolizers (EM). This polymorphism may affect susceptibility to environmental disease, as suggested by molecular epidemiologic studies that found an association between CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotype and cancer risk; however, this association is not consistent. There are only a few examples of CYP2D6 involvement in toxicant mechanism of action, but this has not been extensively studied. Gene probe studies documented a number of genetic polymorphisms that underlie CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotypes. The EM group carries the wild-type (*1) or active (*2) variant alleles, while the PM group carries the *3, *4, *5, or *6 alleles, all of which code for a protein that has lower or null CYP2D6 activity. The current analysis characterizes (a) influence of genotype on phenotype based upon in vivo metabolism studies of probe drugs and (b) frequency of the major genotypes in different population groups is also characterized. These data were then incorporated into Monte Carlo modeling to simulate population distributions of CYP2D6 activity. This analysis reproduced the bimodal distributions commonly seen in phenotyping studies of Caucasians and found extensive population variability in enzyme activity, as indicated by the 9- to 56-fold difference between the PM modal median and the total population median CYP2D6 activity. This substantial degree of interindividual variability in CYP function indicates that assessments involving CYP2D6 substrates need to consider the full distribution of enzyme activity in refining estimates of internal dose in health assessments of xenobiotics.

Evaluation of a [13C]-dextromethorphan breath test to assess CYP2D6 phenotype

A [(13)C]-dextromethorphan ([(13)C]-DM) breath test was evaluated to assess its feasibility as a rapid, phenotyping assay for CYP2D6 activity. [(13)C]-DM (0.5 mg/kg) was administered orally with water or potassium bicarbonate-sodium bicarbonate to 30 adult Caucasian volunteers (n=1 each): CYP2D6 poor metabolizers (2 null alleles; PM-0) and extensive metabolizers with 1 (EM-1) or 2 functional alleles (EM-2). CYP2D6 phenotype was determined by (13)CO(2) enrichment measured by infrared spectrometry (delta-over-baseline [DOB] value) in expired breath samples collected before and up to 240 minutes after [(13)C]-DM ingestion and by 4-hour urinary metabolite ratio. The PM-0 group was readily distinguishable from either EM group by both the breath test and urinary metabolite ratio. Using a single point determination of phenotype at 40 minutes and defining PMs as subjects with a DOB <or=0.5, the sensitivity of the method was 100%; specificity was 95% with 95% accuracy and resulted in the misclassification of 1 EM-1 individual as a PM. Modification of the initial protocol (timing of potassium bicarbonate-sodium bicarbonate administration relative to dose) yielded comparable results, but there was a tendency toward increased DOB values. Although further development is required, these studies suggest that the [(13)C]-DM breath test offers promise as a rapid, minimally invasive phenotyping assay for CYP2D6 activity.

Expression and functional analysis of CYP2D6.24, CYP2D6.26, CYP2D6.27, and CYP2D7 isozymes

The objectives of this study were to compare the drug-metabolizing activity of human CYP2D6.24 (I297L), CYP2D6.26 (I369T), and CYP2D6.27 (E410K) allelic isoforms with wild-type CYP2D6.1 and to express the CYP2D7 protein derived from an indel polymorphism (CYP2D7 138delT) and investigate its possible codeine O-demethylase activity. Successful creation of individual cDNAs corresponding to CYP2D6*24 (2853 A>C), CYP2D6*26 (3277 T>C), and CYP2D6*27 (3853 G>A) allelic variants and CYP2D7 was achieved via molecular cloning. The corresponding proteins, CYP2D6.24, CYP2D6.26, CYP2D6.27, and CYP2D7, were expressed in insect cells by using a baculovirus-mediated expression system. All CYP2D proteins showed the empirical carbon monoxide difference spectra. We were surprised to find that the CYP2D7 protein was detected mainly in mitochondrial fractions, whereas all CYP2D6 allelic isoforms were present in the microsomal fraction. Furthermore, CYP2D7 did not produce any morphine from codeine. In contrast, CYP2D6.24, CYP2D6.26, and CYP2D6.27 allelic isoforms all showed active drug-metabolizing activities toward both codeine and dextromethorphan O-demethylation. Whereas CYP2D6.24 exhibited the highest intrinsic clearance in dextromethorphan O-demethylation (approximately 6-fold higher than that by CYP2D6.1), it had the lowest enzyme efficiency in codeine O-demethylation (approximately 50% lower than that by CYP2D6.1). Overall, the enzymatic consequences of CYP2D6 allelic isozymes are substrate dependent. These data would help preclinical and clinical assessments of the metabolic elimination of drugs that are mediated by human CYP2D enzyme.

Pharmacokinetic interaction of flecainide and paroxetine in relation to the CYP2D6*10 allele in healthy Korean subjects

AIMS

The objectives were to evaluate the effect of CYP2D6 genetic polymorphism on the pharmacokinetics of flecainide, and also on the extent of drug interaction with paroxetine as a CYP2D6 inhibitor after a single oral administration in healthy subjects.

METHODS

An open-label, two-period, single-sequence, cross-over study was performed in 21 healthy Korean male volunteers (seven for CYP2D6*1/*1 or *1/*2, group 1; seven for CYP2D6*1/*10, group 2; seven for CYP2D6*10/*10 or *10/*36, group 3). Subjects were administered 200 mg of flecainide on day 1. After a 7-day wash-out period, subjects were administered 20 mg of paroxetine from day 8 to 14, and 200 mg of flecainide on day 15. Blood sampling was performed up to 72 h after flecainide administration.

RESULTS

Terminal elimination half-life and mean residence time (MRT) were significantly different among three genotype groups after a single oral administration of flecainide (P = 0.021, 0.011, respectively). Area under the concentration-time curve, terminal elimination half-life and MRT increased significantly after paroxetine co-administration only in groups 1 and 2.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reports that the extent of drug interaction between flecainide and paroxetine is influenced by the CYP2D6*10 allele in healthy subjects, which is frequent in Asians.

The CYP2D6 activity score: translating genotype information into a qualitative measure of phenotype

Inferring CYP2D6 phenotype from genotype is increasingly challenging, considering the growing number of alleles and their range of activity. This complexity poses a challenge in translational research where genotyping is being considered as a tool to personalize drug therapy. To simplify genotype interpretation and improve phenotype prediction, we evaluated the utility of an "activity score" (AS) system. Over 25 CYP2D6 allelic variants were genotyped in 672 subjects of primarily Caucasian and African-American heritage. The ability of genotype and AS to accurately predict phenotype using the CYP2D6 probe substrate dextromethorphan was evaluated using linear regression and clustering methods. Phenotype prediction, given as a probability for each AS group, was most accurate if ethnicity was considered; among subjects with genotypes containing a CYP2D6*2 allele, CYP2D6 activity was significantly slower in African Americans compared to Caucasians. The AS tool warrants further prospective evaluation for CYP2D6 substrates and in additional ethnic populations.

Identification and Characterization of CYP2D6*56B, an Allele Associated with the Poor Metabolizer Phenotype

A 5-year-old African-American girl presented with a CYP2D6*4xN/*10 genotype that was discordant with her poor metabolizer phenotype determined with the probe drug dextromethorphan. Both phenotype and genotype were confirmed in repeat assessments, suggesting that the CYP2D6*10 allele carried a novel debilitating sequence variation(s). The rationale for this study was to resolve the discordance and to describe the novel non-functional allelic variant of CYP2D6 and its frequency in populations of different ethnic backgrounds.

Ontogeny of dextromethorphan O- and N-demethylation in the first year of life

The exponential increase in the number of drugs used to treat infant and childhood illnesses necessitates an understanding of the ontogeny of drug biotransformation for the development of safe and effective therapies. Healthy infants received an oral dose (0.3 mg/kg) of dextromethorphan (DM) at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 months of age. DM and its major metabolites were measured in urine. CYP2D6 genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Genotyping data indicated a strong correlation between CYP2D6 genotype and DM O-demethylation (beta=-0.638; 95% CI: -0.745, -0.532; P<0.001). CYP2D6 activity was detectable and concordant with genotype by 2 weeks of age, showed no relationship with gestational age, and did not change with post natal age up to 1 year. In contrast, DM N-demethylation developed significantly more slowly over the first year of life. Genotype and the temporal acquisition of drug biotransformation are critical determinants of a drug response in infants.

Cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6) Gene Locus Heterogeneity: Characterization of Gene Duplication Events

Duplications and multiplications of active CYP2D6 genes can cause ultrarapid drug metabolism and lead to therapeutic failure. Multiple functional and non-functional duplication alleles have been further characterized. Duplications were detected by long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and sequence analysis. A PCR fragment encompassing the entire duplicated gene was utilized for detailed characterization. Duplications occurred at 1.3, 5.75, and 2.0% in Caucasian, African American, and racially mixed populations, respectively (n=887 total). Of those 28, 47, and 17% were non-functional CYP2D6*4 x N. Twelve unique duplication alleles were detected: *1 x N, *2 x N, *4 x N, *6 x N, *10 x N, *17 x N, *17 x N[spacer], *29 x N, *35 x N, *43 x N, *45 x N, and a novel non-functional tandem arrangement of a chimeric 2D7/2D6 and *1 gene. All novel duplications except *35 x N were found in African Americans. Accurate identification of gene duplication events is essential to avoid false-positive ultrarapid metabolism assignments and thus, overestimation of predicted activity and increased risk for unwanted adverse events.

Allelic distributions of CYP2D6 gene copy number variation in the Eastern Han Chinese population

AIM

The human cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) gene copy number variation, involving CYP2D6 gene deletion (CYP2D6*5) and duplication or multiduplication (CYP2D6*xN), can result in reduced or increased metabolism of many clinically used drugs. The identification of CYP2D6*5 and CYP2D6*xN and the investigation of their allelic distributions in ethnic populations can be important in determining the right drug and dosage for each patient.

METHODS

The CYP2D6*5 and CYP2D6 genes, and CYP2D6 gene duplication were identified by 2 modified long PCR, respectively. To determine duplicated alleles, a novel long PCR was developed to amplify the entire duplicated CYP2D6 gene which was used as template for subsequent PCR amplification. A total of 363 unrelated Eastern Han Chinese individuals were analyzed for CYP2D6 gene copy number variation.

RESULTS

The frequency of CYP2D6*5 and CYP2D6*xN were 4.82% (n=35) and 0.69% (n=5) in the Eastern Han Chinese population, respectively. Of the 5 duplicated alleles, 3 were CYP2D6*1xN and 2 were CYP2D6*10xN. One individual was a carrier of both CYP2D6*5 and CYP2D6*1xN. Taken together, the CYP2D6 gene rearrangements were present in 10.74% of subjects.

CONCLUSION

Allelic distributions of the CYP2D6 gene copy number variation differ among Chinese from different regions, indicating ethnic variety in Chinese. Long PCR are convenient, cost effective, specific and semiquantitative for the detection of the CYP2D6 gene copy number variation, and amplification of the entire duplicated CYP2D6 gene is necessary for the accurate identification of duplicated alleles.

Diverse Structures of Chimeric CYP-REP7/6-Containing CYP2D6 and a Novel Defective CYP2D6 Haplotype Harboring Single-type *36 and CYP-REP7/6 in Japanese

Chimeric REP7/6 has been used as a marker of CYP2D6 deletion, such as for CYP2D6*5. However, the CYP2D6*10D (*10D) haplotype found in a Japanese population consist of CYP2D6*10B, CYP2D7P-derived 3'-flanking region, and a chimeric repetitive sequence, CYP-REP7/6 (REP7/6) (Ishiguro et al. Clin. Chim. Acta. 2004: 347, 217-221). From our analysis, REP7/6 was found in 26 out of 254 Japanese subjects. Thus, the REP7/6-containing CYP2D6 genes (2D6-REP7/6) were analyzed in detail. In order to specifically detect the 2D6-REP7/6 structure, primers were designed in CYP2D6 intron 6 and the REP7/6 3'-flanking region. Among 26 subjects analyzed by PCR, 5 had 2D6-REP7/6. The other 21 subjects were confirmed to have *5 by another *5-specific primer set. Three out of five subjects with 2D6-REP7/6 had the *10D structure. However, further analysis by PCR and sequencing revealed that their haplotypes were further divided into tandem-type *36-*10D (n=2) and single-type *10D (n=1). The remaining two subjects had a novel type of a *36-containing defective structure that consists of CYP2D6*36 and 3'-flanking REP7/6 (single-type *36-REP7/6). Then, REP7/6 sequences in *5, *10D, *36-*10D, and single-type *36 were determined and classified into 5 types: types A to D for *5, type E for *10D and *36-*10D, and type F for *36. These findings could be useful for accurate determination of *5 and REP7/6-harboring aberrant CYP2D6 haplotypes.