title: Genetic Polymorphism of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in Moroccan Population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The polymorphic cytochrome P450 isoenzymes CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 are involved in the biotransformation of a wide variety of clinical drugs. Their major alleles occur with varying frequencies among different populations worldwide and have been associated with a varied capacity to degrade important therapeutic agents. This gives rise to important individual and interethnic variability in drug metabolism and may be the cause for different clinical responses regarding drug administration. In this study we aimed to analyze the distribution of the CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 major alleles associated with the impaired metabolism, and that account for the "poor metabolizer" phenotype in our study population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 290 healthy subjects living in South Morocco was genotyped using a restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction genotyping method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C19*3 mutations were not found in our population. The CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C19*2 were the most common alleles, respectively with frequencies of 8% and 11.4%. Regarding CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C19*2, approximately 16% and 22% of Moroccans are respectively deficient metabolizers, and thus largely lack this enzymatic activity. Our results suggest that only CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C19*2 are likely to substantially contribute to individual and interethnic variability of CY2C9-19 activity in our population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of clinically relevant alleles of the CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 genes among our population follows the patterns commonly found in other Mediterranean populations, and suggests a certain degree of African influence. This population study provides relevant information on polymorphisms within the CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 genes. In the future, these results could be used in prognosis and for predicting response to drug treatments as well as to help develop personalized medicine studies in the Moroccan population.
authors.affiliation: 1 Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn-Zohr , Agadir, Morocco .
authors.forename: Driss
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Afilal
authors.affiliation: 1 Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn-Zohr , Agadir, Morocco .
authors.forename: Mohamed Amine
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Basselam
authors.affiliation: 1 Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn-Zohr , Agadir, Morocco .
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Brakez
authors.affiliation: 1 Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn-Zohr , Agadir, Morocco .
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chouham
authors.affiliation: 2 Human Genetics Laboratory, Life Sciences Faculty, University of Madeira , Funchal, Portugal .
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brehm
authors.affiliation: 1 Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn-Zohr , Agadir, Morocco .
authors.forename: El Hassan
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Izaabel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics; D065731:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D065729:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C450260:CYP2C9 protein, human; D065729:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C045793:CYP2C19 protein, human; D065731:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19
keywords: CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 genes; South Moroccan population; drug metabolism; individual and interethnic variability; poor metabolizer (PM) phenotype