Effect of genotype and methylation of CYP2D6 on smoking behaviour.
OBJECTIVE
Cigarette smoking is one of the most influential environmental factors affecting the DNA methylation patterns. The addiction-causing substance of tobacco smoke, nicotine, has also shown the potential to alter DNA methylation patterns. However, genetics has a strong influence on DNA methylation patterns, which in turn may affect an individual's smoking behaviour.


METHODS
We studied eight functional gene variants of one of the most important drug-metabolizing enzymes, CYP2D6, in relation to smoking behaviour in our well-characterized study population consisting of 1230 Whites of Russian origin. In addition, potential associations between methylation levels in a CpG island in the CYP2D6 gene and sex, age, different smoking-related phenotypes and CYP2D6 genotypes were studied.


RESULTS
Both age and sex were found to be associated with the methylation level of the CYP2D6 gene. The CYP2D6 methylation pattern also showed high genotype dependence; compared with the extensive metabolizer genotype, the poor metabolizer genotype occurred notably more frequently with higher methylation status (odds ratio 5.05, 95% confidence interval 2.14-11.90). Moreover, higher methylation levels were found to be related inversely to heavier smoking (odds ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.91). We also found associations between the CYP2D6 genotype and smoking habits; the poor metabolizer genotype tended to decrease the risk of becoming a heavy smoker compared with the extensive metabolizers, whereas the ultrarapid metabolism-related genotypes tended to increase the risk.


CONCLUSIONS
The CYP2D6-related metabolic capacity seems to be related to cigarette consumption both through genetic and through epigenetic mechanisms.
aThe Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland bN.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology cInstitute of Pulmonology dInstitute of Phthisiopulmonology eSt.-Petersburg Pediatric Medical University fI.I. Mechnikov North-Western Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Emmi M
EM
Tiili
Miia S H
MS
Antikainen
Natalia V
NV
Mitiushkina
Olga A
OA
Sukhovskaya
Evgeny N
EN
Imyanitov
Ari P
AP
Hirvonen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D018899:CpG Islands; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6