Molecular genetics of CYP2D6: clinical relevance with focus on psychotropic drugs

Pharmacogenetics of monoamine transporters

The monoamine transporters are the sites of action of the most commonly used psychoactive compounds in therapeutic use today as well as the psychostimulant drugs of abuse. These transporters have been the focus of a large number of genetic association studies of complex behavioral phenomena. More recently, pharmacogenetic studies have suggested an association between a functional regulatory polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene and antidepressant response. This review will discuss the clinical pharmacology of the monoamine transporters, their molecular genetic variability and the results of several association studies of the transporters and psychoactive drug response.

Genetic predisposition to neuroleptic malignant syndrome : implications for antipsychotic therapy

The pathogenetic mechanism of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a potentially lethal adverse effect of antipsychotics, is not well understood. In addition to acquired risk factors, clinical observations suggest a number of genetic factors predisposing patients to NMS. Recent findings in pharmacogenetics indicate that the genetic polymorphisms for drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and possibly drug-targeting molecules, are associated with the interindividual differences in drug responses concerning both efficacy and adverse reactions. Genetic association studies have sought to identify polymorphisms influencing susceptibility to NMS, especially with respect to the dopamine D(2) receptor, serotonin receptor, and cytochrome p450 2D6. While a few candidate polymorphisms were associated with NMS, a large controlled study is needed to attain statistical power. On the other hand, NMS might include heterogeneous conditions with common characteristic symptoms but different causative mechanisms. Further analysis of individuals with identified genetic mutations or polymorphisms should advance our understanding of mechanisms underlying NMS.

Hepatitis induced by Kava (Piper methysticum rhizoma)

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Botanical drugs are widely used and often contain highly active compounds. Kava root (Piper methysticum rhizoma), used frequently in Europe as a remedy against anxiety, contains kavapyrones with sedative effects. Seven case reports suggested the development of hepatitis after the intake of Kava.

METHODS

We analyzed 29 novel cases of hepatitis along with Kava ingestion which occurred between 1990 and 2002 in addition to the seven already published case reports using a clinical diagnostic scale established for adverse hepatic drug reactions.

RESULTS

Hepatic necrosis or cholestatic hepatitis were noticed with both alcoholic and acetonic Kava extracts. The majority of the 29 patients and the additional seven published reports were women (27 females, nine males). Both the cumulative dose and the latency to when the hepatotoxic reaction emerged were highly variable. Nine patients developed fulminant liver failure, of which eight patients underwent liver transplantation. Three patients died, two following unsuccessful liver transplantation and one without. In all other patients, a complete recovery was noticed after the withdrawal of Kava. Pathophysiologically, both immunoallergic and idiosyncratic factors may be responsible.

CONCLUSIONS

The present report emphasizes the potentially severe hepatotoxicity of Kava which has recently led to the retraction of Kava-containing drugs by the pharmacovigilance authorities in Germany.

Effects of various CYP2D6 genotypes on the steady-state plasma concentrations of risperidone and its active metabolite, 9-hydroxyrisperidone, in Japanese patients with schizophrenia

The effects of various CYP2D6 genotypes on the steady-state plasma concentrations (Css) of risperidone and its active metabolite, 9-hydroxyrisperidone, were studied in 85 Japanese schizophrenic patients (27 men and 58 women) treated with 6 mg/d risperidone for at least 2 weeks. Plasma concentrations of risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The patients had the following CYP2D6 genotypes: wild-type (wt)/wt (40 patients), CYP2D6*10 (*10)/wt ( 28), CYP2D6*5 (*5)/wt ( 8), *10/*10 ( 5), *5/*10 ( 3), and CYP2D6*4/CYP2D6*14 ( 1), respectively. The Css values of risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone were corrected to the median body weight of 58 kg. The medians (ranges) of the Css of risperidone in the aforementioned genotype groups were 2.2 (0.37-35.7), 6.4 (2.1-26.5), 12.3 (4.7-39.5), 19.4 (13.4-26.4), 64.0 (41.6-68.8), and 91.8 nmol/L. Those values for risperidone-to-9-hydroxyrisperidone ratio were 0.03 (0.01-0.33), 0.06 (0.03-0.19), 0.14 (0.07-0.29), 0.28 (0.25-0.38), 0.48 (0.38-0.58), and 2.35, respectively. The Css of risperidone was significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001) different among the four genotype groups (wt/wt, *10/wt, *5/wt, and *10/*10), except between the *5/wt and *10/*10 groups. Also, the risperidone-to-9-hydroxyrisperidone ratio significantly (P < 0.005 or P < 0.001) differed among these genotype groups. No significant differences were found in the Css of 9-hydroxyrisperidone and the active moiety (the Css of risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone) among these genotype groups. This study confirms previous findings that the CYP2D6 status affects the Css of risperidone via its strong regulation of 9-hydroxylation of risperidone. However, similar active moiety of risperidone among different genotype groups suggests that the determination of the CYP2D6 genotype has little importance for clinical situations.

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Apparent mechanism-based inhibition of human CYP2D6 in vitro by paroxetine: comparison with fluoxetine and quinidine

Paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) activity, but the mechanism of inhibition is not established. To determine whether preincubation affects the inhibition of human liver microsomal dextromethorphan demethylation activity by paroxetine, we used a two-step incubation scheme in which all of the enzyme assay components, minus substrate, are preincubated with paroxetine. The kinetic parameters of inhibition were also estimated by varying the time of preincubation as well as the concentration of inhibitor. From these data, a Kitz-Wilson plot was constructed, allowing the estimation of both an apparent inactivator concentration required for half-maximal inactivation (K(I)) and the maximal rate constant of inactivation (k(INACT)) value for this interaction. Preincubation of paroxetine with human liver microsomes caused an approximately 8-fold reduction in the IC(50) value (0.34 versus 2.54 microM). Time-dependent inhibition was demonstrated with an apparent K(I) of 4.85 microM and an apparent k(INACT) value of 0.17 min(-1). Spectral scanning of CYP2D6 with paroxetine yielded an increase in absorbance at 456 nm suggesting paroxetine inactivation of CYP2D6 via the formation of a metabolite intermediate complex. This pattern is consistent with the metabolism of the methylenedioxy substituent in paroxetine; such substituents may produce mechanism-based inactivation of cytochrome P450 enzymes. In contrast, quinidine and fluoxetine, both of which are inhibitors of CYP2D6 activity, did not exhibit a preincubation-dependent increase in inhibitory potency. These data are consistent with mechanism-based inhibition of CYP2D6 by paroxetine but not by quinidine or fluoxetine.

Pharmacogenetics of the major polymorphic metabolizing enzymes

There is increasing information available on the existence of polymorphisms in genes encoding xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and the functional significance of many of these. In addition to genes long recognized as being polymorphic, such as CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP2C9, there is now information available on the existence of polymorphisms in other cytochrome P450 genes such as CYP2A6, CYP2B6 and CYP2C8. With respect to phase II metabolism, polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, NAT2 and TPMT are well understood but information is also emerging on other GST polymorphisms and on polymorphisms in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferases and sulfotransferases. The availability of comprehensive information on the occurrence and functional significance of polymorphisms affecting drug metabolism should facilitate their application to pharmacogenomic profiling.

Identification of novel variants of the flavin-containing monooxygenase gene family in African Americans

Sequence polymorphisms in enzymes involved in drug metabolism have been widely implicated in the differences observed in the sensitivity to various xenobiotics. The flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) gene family in humans catalyzes the monooxygenation of numerous N-, P- and S-containing drugs, pesticides, and environmental toxicants. Six genes (FMO1-6) have been identified so far, but the major alleles of FMO2 and FMO6 encode nonfunctional proteins due to a nonsense mutation and splice-site abnormalities, respectively. Data on structural variants exist for human FMO2 and 3, whereas very little is known about the other FMO genes. FMO1-6 were scanned in 50 individuals of African-American descent using the method, detection of virtually all mutations-single-strand conformational polymorphism. A total of 49 sequence variants were identified in a total 1.35 megabases of scanned sequence, of which 29 were variants affecting protein structure or expression. Some of these are expected to affect the activity of the protein, including a nonsense mutation in FMO1 (R502X) and missense mutations in FMO1 (I303T), FMO4 (E339Q), and FMO5 (P457L) that occur in highly conserved amino acids. Additional deleterious substitutions in FMO2 (del337G) and FMO6 (Q105X) were also identified. Multiple structural variants in the FMO gene family were observed in this African-American sample. Some of the substitutions identified in this study might be useful markers in future association studies assessing sensitivity to environmental toxicants and common disease.

Genetic Polymorphism of Human Cytochrome P450 Involved in Drug Metabolism

Recent advances in human gene analysis promoted by the human genome project have brought us a massive amount of information. These data can be seen and analyzed by personal computer through individual Web sites. As a result, the best use of bioinformatic is essential for recent molecular biology research. Genetic polymorphism of drug-metabolizing enzymes influences individual drug efficacy and safety through the alteration of pharmacokinetics and disposition of drugs. Considerable amounts of data have now accumulated as allelic differences of various drug metabolizing enzymes. Current understanding of genotype information on cytochrome P450 is hereby summarized, based on the Web site for their use in individual optimization of drug therapy.