title: Genetic variability of CYP2B6 polymorphisms in four southern Chinese populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the genotype and allelic frequencies of Cytochrome P450 2B6 polymorphisms in four southern Chinese populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA was obtained from blood samples from Han Chinese from Hong Kong and three minority groups, the Wa, Bulang and Lahu from Yunnan in southern China. Genotyping was performed using real-time PCR and confirmed by direct sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 507 subjects from southern China were studied. Results showed there is a high prevalence of 516G > T (34.5%) in ethnic Chinese compared to literature reports on other Asian populations and Caucasians. The frequency of the 516TT genotype is higher in the Han majority (23.1%) than in three other ethnic minority groups (i.e., 7.4%, 9.1% and 15.8%) in southern China.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the first study to document the spectrum of CYP2B6 allelic variants and genotypes in a southern Chinese population. The 516G > T allele is associated with a defective metabolism of efavirenz (EFV), which therefore may predispose to drug toxicity. Treatment regimens for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and heroin addiction may need to be optimized in different populations because of the marked variability of the key metabolizing enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650032, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Bing-Ying
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shui-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Qing-Ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Che-Kit
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hsiang-Fu
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Ming-Liang
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D065702:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C585599:CYP2B6 protein, human; D065702:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating; C098320:efavirenz