Genetic polymorphism of CYP2C8 in three Malaysian ethnics: CYP2C8*2 and CYP2C8*3 are found in Malaysian Indians.
BACKGROUND
CYP2C8 is genetically polymorphic. Four variants, CYP2C8*2, CYP2C8*3, CYP2C8*4 and CYP2C8*5, which contain mutations in the coding regions have been reported to exhibit different enzyme activity as compared with CYP2C8*1.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the allele frequency of three codon-changing variants (CYP2C8*2, CYP2C8*3 and CYP2C8*4) in the Malaysian population.


METHODS
Healthy unrelated volunteers from three major races in Malaysia were recruited. The study was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee. DNA was extracted using a standard protocol. A two-step multiplex PCR method was developed to detect three alleles of CYP2C8. PCR results were confirmed by subsequent direct DNA sequencing.


RESULTS
Only the Indians showed CYP2C8 polymorphism with allele frequency of 98% for CYP2C8*1, 0.8% for CYP2C8*2 and 1.2% for CYP2C8*3. CYP2C8*4 was not detected in any of the ethnic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, the current study described, for the first time polymorphisms of CYP2C8 in Malaysian Indians.
Muthiah
Y D
YD
Pharmacogenetics Study Group, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine and Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Lee
W L
WL
Teh
L K
LK
Ong
C E
CE
Ismail
R
R
D000483:Alleles; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D065727:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005006:Ethnicity; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D003062:Codon; D004247:DNA; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C450259:CYP2C8 protein, human; D065727:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8