Pharmacogenomics of CYP2D6: molecular genetics, interethnic differences and clinical importance

The Effectiveness of Tramadol in Pain Relief in Chronic Diseases: A Review Based on Clinical Trials

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid with a central effect from the aminocyclohexanol group, which has two main mechanisms of action, including as a weak agonist of opioid receptors and as a norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The present study presents a review based on clinical trials designed in 2023. In July 2023, six international databases, including Medline/PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and ISI (Web of Science), were searched and 58 articles were included in the study. The results of most studies showed that tramadol can be used as an analgesic drug, although in some studies it was shown that tramadol is not therapeutically superior in reducing pain compared to other treatments. Also, complications related to this treatment have been reported in some studies. Physicians should consider these factors to prevent drug toxicity, poor pain relief, use disorder in patients, and unpredictable complications. It should be noted that there is not enough evidence to support the long-term effectiveness of tramadol, but this argument also extends to nonopioid and other types of opioid analgesics, and the lack of long-term trials is due to regulatory and ethical issues. Although opioids can cause addiction when used for a long time, tramadol has a reasonable safety profile. According to the patient's condition and the clinical judgment of the medical professional, tramadol can be prescribed for patients, but the consequences of its use must be considered and a personalized treatment algorithm should be selected if the benefits outweigh the risks of the drug.

Potential of pharmacogenetics in minimizing drug therapy problems in cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

With advancements in CF drug development, people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) now take a median of seven medications daily, increasing treatment complexity, risk of drug therapy problems (DTPs), and interference with treatment goals. Given that some of these DTPs can be prevented with preemptive pharmacogenetic testing, the overall goal of this study was to test the clinical utility of a multi-gene pharmacogenetics (PGx) panel in potentially reducing DTPs in PwCF.

METHODS

A population based retrospective study of patients with CF was conducted at the University of Utah Health Care System. The patients were genotyped for CYP450 enzymes using a pharmacogenomic assay, and their drug utilization information was obtained retrospectively. This pharmacogenomic information was combined with clinical guidelines to predict the number of actionable PGx interventions in this patient cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 52 patients were included in this study. In the patient sample, a minimum of one order of actionable PGx medication was observed in 75 % of the cases. Results revealed that 4.2 treatment modifications per 10 patients can be enabled with the help of a PGx intervention in this patient population. Additionally, our findings suggest that polymorphisms in CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 are most likely to be the primary contributors to DTP's within PwCF.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that the PGx panel has the potential to help alleviate the clinical burden of DTPs in PwCF and can assist in informing pharmacotherapy recommendations. Future research should validate these findings and evaluate which subgroups of PwCF would most benefit from pharmacogenetic testing.

Venlafaxine's therapeutic reference range in the treatment of depression revised: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine is among the most prescribed antidepressant drugs worldwide and, according to guidelines, its dose titration should be guided by drug-level monitoring of its active moiety (AM) which consists of venlafaxine (VEN) plus active metabolite O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV). This indication of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), however, assumes a clear concentration/effect relationship for a drug, which for VEN has not been systematically explored yet.

OBJECTIVES

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between blood levels, efficacy, and adverse reactions in order to suggest an optimal target concentration range for VEN oral formulations for the treatment of depression.

METHODS

Four databases (MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane Library) were systematically searched in March 2022 for relevant articles according to a previously published protocol. Reviewers independently screened references and performed data extraction and critical appraisal.

RESULTS

High-quality randomized controlled trials investigating concentration/efficacy relationships and studies using a placebo lead-in phase were not found. Sixty-eight articles, consisting mostly of naturalistic TDM studies or small noncontrolled studies, met the eligibility criteria. Of them, five cohort studies reported a positive correlation between blood levels and antidepressant effects after VEN treatment. Our meta-analyses showed (i) higher AM and (ii) higher ODV concentrations in patients responding to VEN treatment when compared to non-responders (n = 360, k = 5). AM concentration-dependent occurrence of tremor was reported in one study. We found a linear relationship between daily dose and AM concentration within guideline recommended doses (75-225 mg/day). The population-based concentration ranges (25-75% interquartile) among 11 studies (n = 3200) using flexible dosing were (i) 225-450 ng/ml for the AM and (ii) 144-302 ng/ml for ODV. One PET study reported an occupancy of 80% serotonin transporters for ODV serum levels above 85 ng/ml. Based on our findings, we propose a therapeutic reference range for AM of 140-600 ng/ml.

CONCLUSION

VEN TDM within a range of 140 to 600 ng/ml (AM) will increase the probability of response in nonresponders. A titration within the proposed reference range is recommended in case of non-response at lower drug concentrations as a consequence of VEN's dual mechanism of action via combined serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition. Drug titration towards higher concentrations will, however, increase the risk for ADRs, in particular with supratherapeutic drug concentrations.

Evaluation of the effect of CYP2D6*3, *4,*10, and *17 polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetic of tamoxifen and its metabolites in patients with hormone-positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

A high rate of interindividual variability in response to tamoxifen (TAM) in breast cancer patients with CYP2D6 polymorphism has been reported, which affects the patient's therapeutic outcome. The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacogenomics of CYP2D6 genotyping in Iranian patients with breast cancer treated with adjuvant TAM.

METHODS

A peripheral blood sample was obtained to determine the steady-state plasma concentrations of TAM and its metabolites (Endoxifen (EN) and 4-Hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT)) using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLU) assay. We detected CYP2D6 * 3, * 4, * 10, and * 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms via polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

RESULTS

A total of 84 Iranian estrogen receptor‑positive breast cancer patients receiving the daily dose of 20 mg tamoxifen were recruited. Although a consequent decrease in the median EN and 4-OHT concentrations was observed by comparing poor or intermediate metabolizer patients with an extensive metabolizer population, this difference did not reach a significant level. The mean plasma EN concentrations in poor and intermediate metabolizers were 46.1% (95% CI, 7.4-27.8%) and 59.4% (95% CI, 11.9-37.3%) of extensive metabolizer subjects, respectively. Poor and intermediate metabolizers had the mean plasma 4-OHT concentrations that were 46.6% (95% CI, 0.9-61.7%) and 73.2% (95% CI, 2.7-93.1%) of those of subjects who were extensive metabolizer, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The possible role of genotyping in Iranian patients' response to treatment may explain inter-individual differences in the plasma concentrations of active metabolites of TAM.

Whole blood hydroxychloroquine: Does genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 enzymes have a role?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations and multifactorial etiologies ranging from environmental to genetic. SLE is associated with dysregulated immunological reactions, with increased immune complex formation leading to end-organ damages such as lupus nephritis, cutaneous lupus, and musculoskeletal disorders. Lupus treatment aims to reduce disease activity, prevent organ damage, and improve long-term patient survival and quality of life. Antimalarial, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is used as a first-line systemic treatment for lupus. It has shown profound efficacy in lupus and its associated conditions. However, wide variation in terms of clinical response to this drug has been observed among this group of patients. This variability has limited the potential of HCQ to achieve absolute clinical benefits. Several factors, including genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 enzymes, have been stipulated as key entities leading to this inter-individual variation. Thus, there is a need for more studies to understand the role of genetic polymorphisms in CYP450 enzymes in the clinical response to HCQ. Focusing on the role of genetic polymorphism on whole blood HCQ in lupus disorder, this review aims to highlight up-to-date pathophysiology of SLE, the mechanism of action of HCQ, and finally the role of genetic polymorphism of CYP450 enzymes on whole blood HCQ level as well as clinical response in lupus.

Extended-Release Viloxazine for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Age Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To describe the efficacy and safety of extended-release viloxazine (viloxazine ER; Qelbree) for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-age children and adolescents (6-17 years).

DATA SOURCES

A literature search was conducted with PubMed using the following terms: viloxazine and ADHD (August 1, 2017 to February 1, 2023).

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

All relevant English-language articles examining the efficacy and safety of viloxazine ER were considered for inclusion.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Phase III studies reported significant improvement in ADHD symptoms after viloxazine ER treatment in both school-age children (100 mg/d, P = 0.0004 and 200 mg/d, P < 0.0001; NCT03247530) and adolescents (200 mg/d, P = 0.0232; 400 mg/d, P = 0.0091; NCT03247517) compared with placebo. Common adverse effects associated with viloxazine ER included somnolence, fatigue, irritability, decreased appetite, and headache. Together, the studies demonstrated the efficacy and safety of viloxazine ER in patients with ADHD.

RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE IN COMPARISON WITH EXISTING DRUGS

Viloxazine ER is a serotonin-norepinephrine modulator, which is administered once daily orally. It is classified as a nonstimulant medication, which can be used in patients with ADHD who do not respond to or cannot tolerate stimulant medications. Even though atomoxetine and viloxazine ER have not been directly compared, clinical studies have suggested that viloxazine ER has a faster onset of action (~1-2 weeks) compared with atomoxetine (~4 weeks). Like atomoxetine, viloxazine ER carries a boxed warning for suicidal ideation and/or behavior.

CONCLUSION

Viloxazine ER is a useful addition to other nonstimulant medications available to treat patients with ADHD.

Associations between Selected ADRB1 and CYP2D6 Gene Polymorphisms in Children with Ventricular and Supraventricular Arrhythmias

Background and Objectives: Tachycardia is a common cardiovascular disease. Drugs blocking β1-adrenergic receptors (ADRB1) are used in the therapy of arrhythmogenic heart diseases. Disease-related polymorphisms can be observed within the ADRB1 gene. The two most important are Ser49Gly and Arg389Gly, and they influence the treatment efficacy. The family of the cytochrome P450 system consists of the isoenzyme CYP2D6 (Debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase), which is involved in phase I metabolism of almost 25% of clinically important drugs, including antiarrhythmic drugs. A study was conducted to detect the ADRB1 and CYP2D6 gene polymorphisms. Materials and Methods: The material for the test was whole blood from 30 patients with ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia and 20 controls. The samples were obtained from the Department of Pediatric Cardiology. The first to be made was the extraction of DNA using a GeneMATRIX Quick Blood DNA Purification Kit from EURx. The selected ADRB1 and CYP2D6 gene polymorphisms were detected by high-resolution melting polymerase chain reaction (HRM-PCR) analysis. Results: Based on the analysis of melt profile data for each PCR product, the identification of polymorphisms was carried out. Heterozygotes and homozygotes were found in the examined alleles. Conclusions: The frequency of the Arg389Gly polymorphism differs statistically significantly between the control group and patients with supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, as well as between these two groups of patients. Moreover, the Arg389Gly polymorphism was statistically more prevalent in the group of girls with SVT arrhythmia compared to girls with VT. A few carriers of homozygous and heterozygous systems of the S49G polymorphism were detected among patients with arrhythmias, as well as control group. The percentage of individuals carrying the CYP2D6 4 allele as either homozygous or heterozygous was observed in the study and control groups. The high prevalence of the CYP2D6*4 allele carriers in both groups prompts the optimization of beta-1 blocker therapy.

Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin (SERPINA6) Consolidates Sexual Dimorphism of Adult Rat Liver

Produced by the liver, corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) regulates the plasma distribution and actions of glucocorticoids. A sex difference in pituitary growth hormone secretion patterns established during puberty in rats results in increased hepatic CBG production and 2-fold higher plasma corticosterone levels in females. Glucocorticoids control hepatic development and metabolic activities, and we have therefore examined how disrupting the SerpinA6 gene encoding CBG influences plasma corticosterone dynamics, as well as liver gene expression in male and female rats before and after puberty. Comparisons of corticosterone plasma clearance and hepatic uptake in adult rats, with or without CBG, indicated that CBG limits corticosterone clearance by reducing its hepatic uptake. Hepatic transcriptomic profiling revealed minor sex differences (207 differentially expressed genes) and minimal effect of CBG deficiency in 30-day-old rats before puberty. While liver transcriptomes in 60-day-old males lacking CBG remained essentially unchanged, 2710 genes were differentially expressed in wild-type female vs male livers at this age. Importantly, ∼10% of these genes lost their sexually dimorphic expression in adult females lacking CBG, including those related to cholesterol biosynthesis, inflammation, and lipid and amino acid catabolism. Another 203 genes were altered by the loss of CBG specifically in adult females, including those related to xenobiotic metabolism, circadian rhythm, and gluconeogenesis. Our findings reveal that CBG consolidates the sexual dimorphism of the rat liver initiated by sex differences in growth hormone secretion patterns and provide insight into how CBG deficiencies are linked to glucocorticoid-dependent diseases.

Novel Functionalized Spiro [Indoline-3,5'-pyrroline]-2,2'dione Derivatives: Synthesis, Characterization, Drug-Likeness, ADME, and Anticancer Potential

A highly stereo-selective, one-pot, multicomponent method was chosen to synthesize the novel functionalized 1, 3-cycloaddition spirooxindoles (SOXs) (4a-4h). Synthesized SOXs were analyzed for their drug-likeness and ADME parameters and screened for their anticancer activity. Our molecular docking analysis revealed that among all derivatives of SOXs (4a-4h), 4a has a substantial binding affinity (∆G) -6.65, -6.55, -8.73, and -7.27 Kcal/mol with CD-44, EGFR, AKR1D1, and HER-2, respectively. A functional study demonstrated that SOX 4a has a substantial impact on human cancer cell phenotypes exhibiting abnormality in cytoplasmic and nuclear architecture as well as granule formation leading to cell death. SOX 4a treatment robustly induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in cancer cells as observed by enhanced DCFH-DA signals. Overall, our results suggest that SOX (4a) targets CD-44, EGFR, AKR1D1, and HER-2 and induces ROS generation in cancer cells. We conclude that SOX (4a) could be explored as a potential chemotherapeutic molecule against various cancers in appropriate pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo model systems.

Personalizing atomoxetine dosing in children with ADHD: what can we learn from current supporting evidence

PURPOSE

There is marked heterogeneity in treatment response of atomoxetine in patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), especially for the pediatric population. This review aims to evaluate current evidence to characterize the dose-exposure relationship, establish clinically relevant metrics for systemic exposure to atomoxetine, define a therapeutic exposure range, and to provide a dose-adaptation strategy before implementing personalized dosing for atomoxetine in children with ADHD.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed across electronic databases (PubMed and Embase) covering the period of January 1, 1985 to July 10, 2022, to summarize recent advances in the pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics/pharmacogenetics (PGx), therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK), and population pharmacokinetics (PPK) of atomoxetine in children with ADHD.

RESULTS

Some factors affecting the pharmacokinetics of atomoxetine were summarized, including food, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 phenotypes, and drug‒drug interactions (DDIs). The association between treatment response and genetic polymorphisms of genes encoding pharmacological targets, such as norepinephrine transporter (NET/SLC6A2) and dopamine β hydroxylase (DBH), was also discussed. Based on well-developed and validated assays for monitoring plasma concentrations of atomoxetine, the therapeutic reference range in pediatric patients with ADHD proposed by several studies was summarized. However, supporting evidence on the relationship between systemic atomoxetine exposure levels and clinical response was far from sufficient.

CONCLUSION

Personalizing atomoxetine dosage may be even more complex than anticipated thus far, but elucidating the best way to tailor the non-stimulant to a patient's individual need will be achieved by combining two strategies: detailed research in linking the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in pediatric patients, and better understanding in nature and causes of ADHD, as well as environmental stressors.

Association of cytochrome P450 2D15 (CYP2D15) nonsynonymous polymorphisms and exon 3 deleted RNA splice variant with CYP2D15 protein content and enzyme function in dog liver microsomes

CYP2D15 is a major drug metabolizing P450 in canine liver. Like the human orthologue (CYP2D6), this enzyme is highly polymorphic with at least five common nonsynonymous variants reported that result in amino acid changes, including p.Ile109Val, p.Leu115Phe, p.Gly186Ser, p.Ile250Phe and p.Ile307Val. Furthermore, a mRNA splice variant of CYP2D15 has been found in canine liver that lacks the exon 3 gene region resulting in an inactive enzyme. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether any of these amino acid variants or the exon 3 deletion mRNA variant (exon3-delta) was associated with differences in CYP2D15-selective activities or protein content in a bank of canine livers. Livers were obtained from 25 Beagles and 34 dogs of various other breeds. CYP2D15-selective activities measured included dextromethorphan o-demethylation and tramadol o-demethylation. Reverse transcription PCR showed that 76% of livers (44/58) expressed both exon3-delta and normally spliced CYP2D15 RNA, while the remaining 24% (14/58) expressed only normally spliced RNA. The presence of exon3-delta was not correlated with CYP2D15 activities or protein content. Compared with wild-type livers, Beagle dog livers heterozygous for the p.Ile109Val and p.Gly186Ser variants showed from 40 to 50% reductions in median enzyme activities, while heterozygous p.Gly186Ser livers were associated with a 41% reduction in median CYP2D15 protein content (p < .05; Dunn's test). In the entire liver bank, livers homozygous for p.Ile109Val were also associated with a 40% reduction in median dextromethorphan O-demethylation activities versus wild-type livers (p < .05). These results identify several nonsynonymous CYP2D15 gene variants associated with variable CYP2D15 metabolism in canine liver.

Determinants of approved acetylcholinesterase inhibitor response outcomes in Alzheimer's disease: relevance for precision medicine in neurodegenerative diseases

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) are the global standard of care for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and show significant positive effects in neurodegenerative diseases with cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Although experimental and large-scale clinical evidence indicates the potential long-term efficacy of ChEI, primary outcomes are generally heterogeneous across outpatient clinics and regional healthcare systems. Sub-optimal dosing or slow tapering, heterogeneous guidelines about the timing for therapy initiation (prodromal versus dementia stages), healthcare providers' ambivalence to treatment, lack of disease awareness, delayed medical consultation, prescription of ChEI in non-AD cognitive disorders, contribute to the negative outcomes. We present an evidence-based overview of determinants, spanning genetic, molecular, and large-scale networks, involved in the response to ChEI in patients with AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. A comprehensive understanding of cerebral and retinal cholinergic system dysfunctions along with ChEI response predictors in AD is crucial since disease-modifying therapies will frequently be prescribed in combination with ChEI. Therapeutic algorithms tailored to genetic, biological, clinical (endo)phenotypes, and disease stages will help leverage inter-drug synergy and attain optimal combined response outcomes, in line with the precision medicine model.

[A precision medication study of atomoxetine in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: CYP2D6 genetic testing and therapeutic drug monitoring]

Atomoxetine is the first non-stimulant drug for the treatment of children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and its safety and efficacy show significant differences in the pediatric population. This article reviews the genetic factors influencing the pharmacokinetic differences of atomoxetine from the aspect of the gene polymorphisms of the major metabolizing enzyme CYP2D6 of atomoxetine, and then from the perspective of therapeutic drug monitoring, this article summarizes the reference ranges of the effective concentration of atomoxetine in children with ADHD proposed by several studies. In general, there is an association between the peak plasma concentration of atomoxetine and clinical efficacy, but with a lack of data from the Chinese pediatric population. Therefore, it is necessary to establish related clinical indicators for atomoxetine exposure, define the therapeutic exposure range of children with ADHD in China, and combine CYP2D6 genotyping to provide support for the precision medication of atomoxetine.

The impact of CYP2D6*41 on CYP2D6 enzyme activity using phenotyping methods in urine, plasma, and saliva

Aims: The CYP2D6*41 variant is the second or third frequent reduced function allele in Chinese with a frequency of around 3–4%, while it is the major reduced function allele in Indians, Saudi Arabians and Caucasians with frequencies of around 10–20%. The present study was designed to explore the impact of CYP2D6*41 on the metabolic activity of CYP2D6 using phenotyping methods in urine, plasma, and saliva.

Methods: We used dextromethorphan as the probe drug to analyze the phenotypes of 87 subjects with CYP2D6*1/*1 (n = 22), CYP2D6*1/*2 (n = 33), CYP2D6*2/*2 (n = 4), CYP2D6*1/*41 (n = 5), CYP2D6*2/*41 (n = 3), CYP2D6*10/*41 (n = 16), and CYP2D6*5/*41 (n = 4) for CYP2D6. The ratio of parent drug to metabolite in 3 h saliva, 3 h plasma, and in 0–3 h urine was considered the metabolic ratio (MR).

Results: The CYP2D6*41 allele had substantial impact on the metabolic activity of CYP2D6 regardless of the urinary, plasma, or salivary phenotyping method used. In subjects with CYP2D6*1(or *2)/*1(or *2), *1 (or *2)/*41, *10/*41 and *5/*41 (all p < 0.001), the salivary, plasma, or urinary MR value increased. The MRs in saliva, plasma, and urine displayed high correlations.

Conclusion: The activity score system or the consensus activity score system, instead of the traditional phenotype classification, could predict the CYP2D6 enzyme activity more accurately. CYP2D6*41 had similar or more impact on the CYP2D6 enzyme activity as compared with CYP2D6*10. Assigning *41 a score of 0.5 and assigning *10 a score of 0.25 according to the consensus AS system should be reconsidered.

The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics of Psychostimulants

The psychostimulants-amphetamine and methylphenidate-have been in clinical use for well more than 60 years. In general, both stimulants are rapidly absorbed with relatively poor bioavailability and short half-lives. The pharmacokinetics of both stimulants are generally linear and dose proportional although substantial interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics is in evidence. Amphetamine (AMP) is highly metabolized by several oxidative enzymes forming multiple metabolites while methylphenidate (MPH) is primarily metabolized by hydrolysis to the inactive metabolite ritalinic acid. At present, pharmacogenomic testing as an aid to guide dosing and personalized treatment cannot be recommended for either agent. Few pharmacokinetically based drug-drug interactions (DDIs) have been documented for either stimulant.

The mechanisms of interactions of psychotropic drugs with liver and brain cytochrome P450 and their significance for drug effect and drug-drug interactions

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) plays an important role in psychopharmacology. While liver CYP enzymes are responsible for the biotransformation of psychotropic drugs, brain CYP enzymes are involved in the local metabolism of these drugs and endogenous neuroactive substances, such as neurosteroids, and in alternative pathways of neurotransmitter biosynthesis including dopamine and serotonin. Recent studies have revealed a relation between the brain nervous system and cytochrome P450, indicating that CYP enzymes metabolize endogenous neuroactive substances in the brain, while the brain nervous system is engaged in the central neuroendocrine and neuroimmune regulation of cytochrome P450 in the liver. Therefore, the effect of neuroactive drugs on cytochrome P450 should be investigated not only in vitro, but also at in vivo conditions, since only in vivo all mechanisms of drug-enzyme interaction can be observed, including neuroendocrine and neuroimmune modulation. Psychotropic drugs can potentially affect cytochrome P450 via a number of mechanisms operating at the level of the nervous, hormonal and immune systems, and the liver. Their effect on cytochrome P450 in the brain is often different than in the liver and region-dependent. Since psychotropic drugs can affect cytochrome P450 both in the liver and brain, they can modify their own pharmacological effect at both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic level. The article describes the mechanisms by which psychotropic drugs can change the expression/activity of cytochrome P450 in the liver and brain, and discusses the significance of those mechanisms for drug action and drug-drug interactions. Moreover, the brain CYP2D6 is considered as a potential target for psychotropics.

Pharmacogenomics in Children

Historically genetics has not been considered when prescribing drugs for children. However, it is clear that genetics are not only an important determinant of disease in children but also of drug response for many important drugs that are core agents used in the therapy of common problems in children. Advances in therapy and in the ethical construct of children's research have made pharmacogenomic assessment for children much easier to pursue. It is likely that pharmacogenomics will become part of the therapeutic decision-making process for children, notably in areas such as childhood cancer where weighing benefits and risks of therapy is crucial.

Direct Superacid-Promoted Difluoroethylation of Aromatics

Under superacid conditions, aromatic amines are directly and regioselectively 1,1-difluoroethylated. Low temperature in situ NMR studies confirmed the presence of benzylic α-fluoronium and α-chloronium ions as key intermediates in the reaction. This method has a wide substrate scope and can be applied to the late-stage functionalization of natural alkaloids and active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Beyond generative models: superfast traversal, optimization, novelty, exploration and discovery (STONED) algorithm for molecules using SELFIES

Inverse design allows the generation of molecules with desirable physical quantities using property optimization. Deep generative models have recently been applied to tackle inverse design, as they possess the ability to optimize molecular properties directly through structure modification using gradients. While the ability to carry out direct property optimizations is promising, the use of generative deep learning models to solve practical problems requires large amounts of data and is very time-consuming. In this work, we propose STONED - a simple and efficient algorithm to perform interpolation and exploration in the chemical space, comparable to deep generative models. STONED bypasses the need for large amounts of data and training times by using string modifications in the SELFIES molecular representation. First, we achieve non-trivial performance on typical benchmarks for generative models without any training. Additionally, we demonstrate applications in high-throughput virtual screening for the design of drugs, photovoltaics, and the construction of chemical paths, allowing for both property and structure-based interpolation in the chemical space. Overall, we anticipate our results to be a stepping stone for developing more sophisticated inverse design models and benchmarking tools, ultimately helping generative models achieve wider adoption.

Clinical pharmacogenomics in action: design, assessment and implementation of a novel pharmacogenetic panel supporting drug selection for diseases of the central nervous system (CNS)

Background

Pharmacogenomics describes the link between gene variations (polymorphisms) and drug responses. In view of the implementation of precision medicine in personalized healthcare, pharmacogenetic tests have recently been introduced in the clinical practice. However, the translational aspects of such tests have been limited due to the lack of robust population-based evidence.

Materials

In this paper we present a novel pharmacogenetic panel (iDNA Genomics-PGx–CNS or PGx–CNS), consisting of 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 13 genes involved in the signaling or/and the metabolism of 28 approved drugs currently administered to treat diseases of the Central Nervous System (CNS). We have tested the PGx–CNS panel on 501 patient-derived DNA samples from a southeastern European population and applied biostatistical analyses on the pharmacogenetic associations involving drug selection, dosing and the risk of adverse drug events (ADEs).

Results

Results reveal the occurrences of each SNP in the sample and a strong correlation with the European population. Nonlinear principal component analysis strongly indicates co-occurrences of certain variants. The metabolization efficiency (poor, intermediate, extensive, ultra-rapid) and the frequency of clinical useful pharmacogenetic, associations in the population (drug relevance), are also described, along with four exemplar clinical cases illustrating the strong potential of the PGx–CNS panel, as a companion diagnostic assay. It is noted that pharmacogenetic associations involving copy number variations (CNVs) or the HLA gene were not included in this analysis.

Conclusions

Overall, results illustrate that the PGx–CNS panel is a valuable tool supporting therapeutic medical decisions, urging its broad clinical implementation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-021-02816-3.

Effects of paroxetine on the pharmacokinetics of atomoxetine and its metabolites in different CYP2D6 genotypes

The aim of this study was to investigate the  effects of paroxetine, a potent inhibitor of CYP2D6, on the pharmacokinetics of atomoxetine and its two metabolites, 4-hydroxyatomoxetine and N-desmethylatomoxetine, in different CYP2D6 genotypes. Twenty-six healthy subjects were recruited and divided into CYP2D6*wt/*wt (*wt=*1 or *2, n = 10), CYP2D6*wt/*10 (n = 9), and CYP2D6*10/*10 groups (n = 7). In atomoxetine phase, all subjects received a single oral dose of atomoxetine (20 mg). In paroxetine phase, after administration of a single oral dose of paroxetine (20 mg) for six consecutive days, all subjects received a single oral dose of atomoxetine with paroxetine. Plasma concentrations of atomoxetine and its metabolites were determined up to 24 h after dosing. During atomoxetine phase, there were significant differences in C_max and AUC_0-24 of atomoxetine and N-desmethylatomoxetine among three genotype groups, whereas significant differences were not found in relation to CYP2D6*10 allele after administration of paroxetine. AUC ratios of 4-hydroxyatomoxetine and N-desmethylatomoxetine to atomoxetine were significantly different among three genotype groups during atomoxetine phase (all, P < 0.001), but after paroxetine treatment significant differences were not found. After paroxetine treatment, AUC_0-24 of atomoxetine was increased by 2.3-, 1.7-, and 1.3-fold, in CYP2D6*wt/*wt, CYP2D6*wt/*10, and CYP2D6*10/*10 groups in comparison to atomoxetine phase, respectively. AUC ratio of 4-hydroxyatomoxetine to atomoxetine in each group was significantly decreased, whereas AUC ratio of N-desmethylatomoxetine to atomoxetine significantly increased after administration of paroxetine. In conclusion, paroxetine coadministration significantly affected pharmacokinetic parameters of atomoxetine and its two metabolites, 4-hydroxyatomoxetine and N-desmethylatomoxetine. When atomoxetine was administered alone, C_max, AUC_0-24 and CL/F of atomoxetine were significantly different among the three CYP2D6 genotype groups. However, after paroxetine coadministration, no significant differences in these pharmacokinetic parameters were observed among the CYP2D6 genotype groups.

Effects of CYP2D6 genetic polymorphism on the pharmacokinetics of metoclopramide

Metoclopramide inhibits the central and peripheral D₂ receptors and is frequently prescribed in adults and children as an antiemetic or a prokinetic drug to control symptoms of upper gastrointestinal motor disorders. Metoclopramide is predominantly metabolized via N-dealkylation and it is primarily mediated by CYP2D6 which is highly polymorphic. Thus, the effects of CYP2D6 genetic polymorphism on the pharmacokinetics of metoclopramide were evaluated in this study. All volunteers were genotyped for CYP2D6 and divided into four different genotype groups (CYP2D6*wt/*wt [*wt = *1 or *2], CYP2D6*wt/*10, CYP2D6*10/*10, and CYP2D6*5/*10). Each subject received a single oral dose of metoclopramide 10 mg. Plasma concentrations of metoclopramide were measured by using HPLC-UV. Compared to CYP2D6*wt/*wt, AUC_inf of CYP2D6*wt/*10, CYP2D6*10/*10, and CYP2D6*5/*10 significantly increased by 1.5-, 2.3-, and 2.5-fold, respectively. C_max also increased significantly in comparison to CYP2D6*wt/*wt across all genotype groups, with 1.5-, 1.7-, and 1.7-fold increases seen in CYP2D6*wt/*10, CYP2D6*10/*10, and CYP2D6*5/*10 groups, respectively. The CL/F of metoclopramide decreased in CYP2D6 genotype groups with decreased function alleles, as decreases of 37%, 56% and 61% were observed in CYP2D6*wt/10, *10/10, and *5/*10 genotype groups in comparison to the CYP2D6*wt/*wt group. In conclusion, the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6 significantly affected metoclopramide pharmacokinetics.

Pharmacogenetics in psychiatric care, a call for uptake of available applications

In this narrative, we evaluate the role of pharmacogenetics in psychiatry from a pragmatic clinical perspective and address current barriers of clinical implementation of pharmacogenetics. Pharmacogenetics has been successfully implemented to improve drug therapy in several clinical areas, but not psychiatry. Yet, psychotropics account for more than one-third of the drugs for which pharmacogenetic guidelines are available and drug therapy in mental disorders is suboptimal with insufficient effectiveness and frequent adverse events. The limited application of pharmacogenetics in psychiatry is influenced by several factors; e.g. the complexity of psychotropic drug metabolism, possibly impeding the clinical understanding of the benefits of pharmacogenetics. Also, recommendations for most psychotropics classify pharmacogenetic testing only as (potentially) beneficial, not as essential, possibly because life-threatening adverse events are often not involved in these drug-gene interactions. Implementing pharmacogenetics in psychiatry could improve the current practice of time-consuming switching of therapies causing undue delays associated with worse outcomes. We expect pharmacogenetics in psychiatry to expedite with panel-based genotyping, including clinically relevant variants, which will address the complex enzymatic metabolism of psychotropic drugs. Until then, we stress that available pharmacogenetic testing should be seen as an integrated companion, not a competitor, in current clinical psychiatric care.

Cytochrome P450 2D6 polymorphism in eastern Indian population

OBJECTIVES:

Cytochrome P₄₅₀ 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme metabolizes a quarter of prescription drugs. Polymorphisms of CYP2D6 gene and resultant phenotypic variations in metabolic activity have been described in various populations. We assessed the prevalence of CYP2D6 activity phenotypes, employing dextromethorphan (DXM) as probe drug in subjects with at least two parental generations residing in eastern India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Unrelated healthy subjects took 60 mg DXM after fasting overnight. Blood samples were collected 3 h after dosing and plasma separated. DXM and its primary metabolite dextrorphan (DXT) were measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The DXM-to-DXT metabolic ratio (MR) was obtained for each subject. Histogram of MR values suggested bimodal distribution. A polynomial regression equation derived through probit analysis was solved to identify the antimode of the MR values. Subjects with log(MR) < antimode were extensive metabolizers (EMs). Log(MR) ≥ antimode indicated poor metabolizers (PMs).

RESULTS:

We evaluated the results from 97 participants. The median MR was 0.209 (interquartile range: 0.090–0.609), while the antimode for MR was 3.055. From these, it was inferred that three subjects were PMs, while the rest were EMs. CYP2D6 polymorphism prevalence is low (3.09%; 95% confidence interval: 0.35%–6.54%) in the population of eastern India and matches the prevalence in other zones of the country.

CONCLUSIONS:

Differences in CYP2D6 activity has treatment implications and may lead to adverse events or therapeutic failure. Phenotyping of subjects receiving CYP2D6 metabolized drugs may help clinicians personalize treatment and avert adverse drug-drug interactions. However, the frequency of the PM phenotype is low in India, and routinely phenotyping for CYP2D6 activity will not be cost-effective. We cannot recommend it at this stage.

Genomics testing and personalized medicine in the preoperative setting: Can it change outcomes in postoperative pain management?

Postoperative pain and opioid use are major challenges in perioperative medicine. Pain perception and its response to opioid use are multi-faceted and include pharmacological, psychological, and genetic components. Precision medicine is a unique approach to individualized health care in which decisions in management are based on genetics, lifestyle, and environment of each person. Genetic variations can have an impact on the perception of pain and response to treatment. This can have an effect on pain management in both acute and chronic settings. Although there is currently not enough evidence for making recommendations about genetic testing to guide pain management in the acute care setting, there are some known polymorphisms that play a role in surgical pain and opioid-related postoperative adverse outcomes. In this review, we describe the potential use of pharmacogenomics (PGx) for improving perioperative pain management. We first review a number of genotypes that have shown correlations with pain and opioid use and then describe the importance of PGx-guided analgesic protocols and implementation of screening in a preoperative evaluation clinical setting.

Relationship between plasma exposure of zolpidem and CYP2D6 genotype in healthy Korean subjects

Zolpidem, a widely prescribed hypnotic agent, is extensively metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, and CYP2C9, CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 are also involved in the metabolism of zolpidem. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of CYP2D6 genotypes on the exposure of zolpidem. The healthy male volunteers were divided into three different genotype groups (CYP2D6*wt/*wt [*wt = *1 or *2], CYP2D6*wt/*10, and CYP2D6*10/*10). Each subject received a single oral dose of zolpidem 5 mg with or without a steady-state concentration of clarithromycin (a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4), and plasma concentrations of zolpidem were measured up to 12 h after zolpidem dosing by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. When zolpidem was administered alone, the exposure of zolpidem (the total areas under the curve and the mean peak plasma concentrations) was not significantly different among three different genotype groups. Even with the steady-state concentration of clarithromycin, a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, there were no significant differences in the exposure of zolpidem in relation to CYP2D6 genotypes.

Analysis of polymorphisms of canine Cytochrome P 450-CYP2D15

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) proteins constitute a large ancient family of oxidative enzymes essential for the efficient elimination of a wide variety of clinically used drugs. Polymorphic variants of human CYP2D6 are associated with the conversion rate and efficacy of several drugs such as antidepressants. Polymorphisms of the canine orthologue CYP2D15 are of interest because these antidepressants are also used in dogs with behavioral problems and the outcome of the treatment is variable. However, the annotated CYP2D15 gene is incomplete and inaccurately assembled in CanFam3.1, hampering DNA sequence analysis of the gene in individual dogs. We elucidated the complete exon-intron structure of CYP2D15 to enable comprehensive genotyping of the gene using genomic DNA. We surveyed variations of the gene in four diverse dog breeds and identified novel polymorphisms in exon 2 in border collies. Further investigation to establish the impact of these canine CYP2D15 polymorphisms on interindividual variability in expression and function of this metabolizing enzyme is now feasible. Further knowledge of CYP pharmacogenetics will help individualize therapy and thereby increase therapeutic efficacy, especially in the use of antidepressants in veterinary behavioral medicine.

Primary Care Prescription Drug Use and Related Actionable Drug-Gene Interactions in the Danish Population

Pharmacogenetics (PGx) aims to improve drug therapy using the individual patients' genetic make-up. Little is known about the potential impact of PGx on the population level, possibly hindering implementation of PGx in clinical care. Therefore, we investigated how many patients use actionable PGx drugs, have actionable genotypes or phenotypes and which patients could benefit the most of PGx testing. We included PGx recommendations from two international PGx consortia (Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) and Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG)). Using data from publically accessible sales information drawn from the Danish Register of Medicinal Product Statistics (MEDSTAT), we identified the number of users of actionable prescription PGx drugs among the total Danish population in 2017. We estimated actionable genotypes or phenotypes based on reported frequencies from literature. We identified 49 drug-gene interactions related to 41 unique prescription drugs. The estimated median frequency of actionable genotypes or phenotypes among prescription drug users was 25% (interquartile range 7-26%). Six of 41 drugs were used more than twice as much in women. Actionable PGx drugs were most frequently used by 45-79 year old patients (62%), followed by 25-44 year old patients (18%). Almost half of the actionable PGx drugs (19/41) were psychotropics (i.e., antidepressants, antipsychotics, or psychostimulants). PGx testing can have a substantial impact on the population, as one in four prescription drug users has an actionable genotype or phenotype and could thus benefit from PGx testing. We advocate for prospective panel-based PGx testing at the time of the first PGx drug prescription ("as needed"), with PGx results ready prior to start of the first, and all future, therapies.

Complete Heart Block Secondary to Flecainide Toxicity: Is It Time for CYP2D6 Genotype Testing?

Flecainide acetate is a Vaughan-Williams class IC antiarrhythmic drug prescribed for the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias. It has a narrow therapeutic index and proarrhythmic effects even at therapeutic doses. Flecainide is metabolized by a CYP2D6 enzyme that exhibits polymorphism. In this case report, we present, to our best knowledge, the first case of toxicity contributed by genetic polymorphism in an infant. Our patient with recurrent supraventricular tachycardia was treated with a therapeutic dose of flecainide but developed heart block requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and subsequent treatment with lipid emulsion therapy. He was found to have supratherapeutic serum flecainide concentration, and gene testing revealed the patient to be an intermediate metabolizer. With this case report, we reinforce the importance of evaluating the CYP2D6 genotype before drug initiation in the neonatal population and recommend regular monitoring of serum flecainide levels and electrocardiograms in these patients.

The Systems Biology of Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters: Relevance to Quantitative Systems Pharmacology

Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) has emerged as a transformative science in drug discovery and development. It is now time to fully rethink the biological functions of drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and transporters within the framework of QSP models. The large set of DME and transporter genes are generally considered from the perspective of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of drugs. However, there is a growing amount of data on the endogenous physiology of DMEs and transporters. Recent studies—including systems biology analyses of “omics” data as well as metabolomics studies—indicate that these enzymes and transporters, which are often among the most highly expressed genes in tissues like liver, kidney, and intestine, have coordinated roles in fundamental biological processes. Multispecific DMEs and transporters work together with oligospecific and monospecific ADME proteins in a large multiorgan remote sensing and signaling network. We use the Remote Sensing and Signaling Theory (RSST) to examine the roles of DMEs and transporters in intratissue, interorgan, and interorganismal communication via metabolites and signaling molecules. This RSST‐based view is applicable to bile acids, uric acid, eicosanoids, fatty acids, uremic toxins, and gut microbiome products, among other small organic molecules of physiological interest. Rooting this broader perspective of DMEs and transporters within QSP may facilitate an improved understanding of fundamental biology, physiologically based pharmacokinetics, and the prediction of drug toxicities based upon the interplay of these ADME proteins with key pathways in metabolism and signaling. The RSST‐based view should also enable more tailored pharmacotherapy in the setting of kidney disease, liver disease, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. We further discuss the pharmaceutical and regulatory implications of this revised view through the lens of systems physiology.

Pharmacogenomics of Pain Management: The Impact of Specific Biological Polymorphisms on Drugs and Metabolism

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pain is multifactorial and complex, often with a genetic component. Pharmacogenomics is a relative new field, which allows for the development of a truly unique and personalized therapeutic approach in the treatment of pain.

RECENT FINDINGS

Until recently, drug mechanisms in humans were determined by testing that drug in a population and calculating response averages. However, some patients will inevitably fall outside of those averages, and it is nearly impossible to predict who those outliers might be. Pharmacogenetics considers a patient's unique genetic information and allows for anticipation of that individual's response to medication. Pharmacogenomic testing is steadily making progress in the management of pain by being able to identify individual differences in the perception of pain and susceptibility and sensitivity to drugs based on genetic markers. This has a huge potential to increase efficacy and reduce the incidence of iatrogenic drug dependence and addiction. The streamlining of relevant polymorphisms of genes encoding receptors, transporters, and drug-metabolizing enzymes influencing the pain phenotype can be an important guide to develop safe new strategies and approaches to personalized pain management. Additionally, some challenges still prevail and preclude adoption of pharmacogenomic testing universally. These include lack of knowledge about pharmacogenomic testing, inadequate standardization of the process of data handling, questionable benefits about the clinical and financial aspects of pharmacogenomic testing-guided therapy, discrepancies in clinical evidence supporting these tests, and doubtful reimbursement of the tests by health insurance agencies.

PharmVar GeneFocus: CYP2D6

The Pharmacogene Variation Consortium (PharmVar) provides nomenclature for the highly polymorphic human CYP2D6 gene locus. CYP2D6 genetic variation impacts the metabolism of numerous drugs and, thus, can impact drug efficacy and safety. This GeneFocus provides a comprehensive overview and summary of CYP2D6 genetic variation and describes how the information provided by PharmVar is utilized by the Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase (PharmGKB) and the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC).

CYP2D1 Gene Knockout Reduces the Metabolism and Efficacy of Venlafaxine in Rats

Rat CYP2D1 has been considered as an ortholog of human CYP2D6 To assess the role of CYP2D1 in physiologic processes and drug metabolism, a CYP2D1-null rat model was generated with a CRISPR/Cas9 method. Seven base pairs were deleted from exon 4 of CYP2D1 of Sprague-Dawley wild-type (WT) rats. The CYP2D1-null rats were viable and showed no abnormalities in general appearance and behavior. The metabolism of venlafaxine (VLF) was further studied in CYP2D1-null rats. The V max and intrinsic clearance of the liver microsomes in vitro from CYP2D1-null rats were decreased (by ∼46% and ∼57% in males and ∼47% and ∼58% in females, respectively), while the Michaelis constant was increased (by ∼24% in males and ∼25% in females) compared with WT rats. In the pharmacokinetic studies, compared with WT rats, VLF in CYP2D1-null rats had significantly lower apparent total clearance and apparent volume of distribution (decreased by ∼36% and ∼48% in males and ∼23% and ∼25% in females, respectively), significantly increased area under the curve (AUC) from the time of administration to the last time point, AUC from the start of administration to the theoretical extrapolation, and C max (increased by ∼64%, ∼59%, and ∼26% in males and ∼43%, ∼35%, and ∼15% in females, respectively). In addition, O-desmethyl venlafaxine formation was reduced as well in CYP2D1-null rats compared with that in WT rats. Rat depression models were developed with CYP2D1-null and WT rats by feeding them separately and exposing them to chronic mild stimulation. VLF showed better efficacy in the WT depression rats compared with that in the CYP2D1-null rats. In conclusion, a CYP2D1-null rat model was successfully generated, and CYP2D1 was found to play a certain role in the metabolism and efficacy of venlafaxine. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: A novel CYP2D1-null rat model was generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and it was found to be a valuable tool in the study of the in vivo function of human CYP2D6. Moreover, our data suggest that the reduced O-desmethyl venlafaxine formation was associated with a lower VLF efficacy in rats.

Genetic and epigenetic polymorphisms of eNOS and CYP2D6 in mainland Chinese Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygur, and Han populations

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) are important in the cardiovascular disease susceptibility and drug response. The methylation of cytosine in the promoter of genes could influence expression. The interindividual differences of drug response could only be explained partly by the polymorphisms of drug disposition genes. This study was aimed to investigate the genetic and epigenetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6 and eNOS in Chinese Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygur, and Han volunteers. Blood samples were collected from 842 unrelated Chinese healthy subjects (323 Tibetan, 134 Mongolian, 162 Uygur, and 223 Han) for genotyping and part of the DNA samples were subjected to cytosine methylation analysis. Significant genetic and epigenetic interethnic polymorphisms of eNOS and CYP2D6 were found in the four Chinese groups. The 4b-G-T wild-type haplotype of eNOS was the most common in Chinese Tibetan (87.1%), Mongolian (79.9%), Uygur (76.4%), and Han (79.5%), respectively. eNOS T-786C creates a new CpG site and a significantly higher methylation level was found in -786CC than that in -786TC in Chinese Han (P = 0.0485) and total Chinese (P = 0.0104). CYP2D6 A-678 (rs28633410) makes the symmetrical CpG site changed to be an asymmetrical CpA site, and the methylation level of cytosine in the CpG context of G-678A was significantly higher than that in the CpA. The results of the present study could be useful for understanding the interindividual disparity of cardiovascular disease susceptibility and drug response among different Chinese ethnic groups and would provide more evidences for the precise medication of Chinese.

Resequencing CYP2D6 gene in Indian population: CYP2D6*41 identified as the major reduced function allele

Aim: The CYP2D6 gene is highly polymorphic and harbors population specific alleles that define its predominant metabolizer phenotype. This study aimed to identify polymorphisms in Indian population owing to scarcity of CYP2D6 data in this population. Materials & methods: The CYP2D6 gene was resequenced in 105 south Indians using next generation sequencing technology and haplotypes were reconstructed. Results & conclusion: Four novel missense variants have been designated as CYP2D6*110, *111, *112 and *113. The most common alleles were CYP2D6*1 (42%), *2 (32%), and *41 (12.3%) and diplotypes were CYP2D6*1/*2 (26%), *1/*1 (11%), *2/*41 (10%) and *1/*41 (7%) accounting for high incidence of extensive metabolizers in Indians.

Impacts of Cytochrome P450 2D6*10 Allele and a High-Fat Meal on the Pharmacokinetics of Dapoxetine in Healthy Chinese Men: A Single-Dose, Two-Treatment Study

INTRODUCTION

Factors that impact the pharmacokinetics of dapoxetine, a 5-HT selective reuptake inhibitor used for the treatment of premature ejaculation, have not been clearly identified. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of consumption of a high-fat meal and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of dapoxetine in healthy Chinese men.

METHODS

Twenty-two healthy volunteers were enrolled and classified based on their CYP2D6 genotype. A single-dose, two-treatment (fasted and fed), two-period, one-sequence pharmacokinetic study was conducted. Plasma concentrations of the drug were determined using LC-MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by a noncompartmental analysis.

RESULTS

The consumption of food significantly prolonged the time required for dapoxetine to reach its peak concentration and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC_0-48) (p < 0.01). Compared with that in *1/*10 and *2/*10 genotypes, the dapoxetine plasma exposure in *10/*10 individuals was notably increased. The AUC_0-48 value for *10/*10 was significantly higher than that for *1/*10 and *2/*10 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The obtained results demonstrated that a high-fat meal and the CYP2D6 *10/*10 genotype influence the pharmacokinetic properties of dapoxetine and may thus have potential clinical implications. Future studies focusing on safe dapoxetine dosing based on CYP2D6 genotyping are needed.

FUNDING

This study was partially sponsored by Xiamen Fuman Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The article processing charges were funded by The People's Hospital of Dujiangyan City.

CYP2D6 genotyping analysis and functional characterization of novel allelic variants in a Ni-Vanuatu and Kenyan population by assessing dextromethorphan O-demethylation activity

While CYP2D6 allele and phenotype frequencies have been extensively studied, currently, very little ethnically specific data is available regarding the East African and South Pacific region, including Kenya and Vanuatu. The absence of information regarding gene polymorphisms and their resulting clinical effects in these populations may hinder treatment strategies and patient outcome. Given the scarceness of CYP2D6 related data in these populations, the purpose of this study was to perform a pharmacogenomic analysis of the Kenyan and Ni-Vanuatu population and ultimately characterize the enzymatic properties of eight novel CYP2D6 variant proteins expressed in 293FT cells in vitro using dextromethorphan as a substrate. Our study revealed a prevalence of functional alleles in both populations a low frequency for decreased function defining genotypes in the Ni-Vanuatu population, with approximately 36% of our Kenyan subjects presenting substrate-dependent decreased function alleles. Additionally, 6 variants (P171L, G306R, V402L, K1, K2, and K3) showed significantly reduced intrinsic clearance compared to wild-type CYP2D6.1. Our findings aid in efforts to bridge the gap between pharmacogenomic analysis and clinical application, by providing useful information in the development of ethnic-specific strategies as well as stressing the importance of population-specific genotyping when conducting multi-regional clinical trials and designing therapeutic strategies.

Safety and tolerability of single low-dose primaquine in a low-intensity transmission area in South Africa: an open-label, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

To reduce onward falciparum malaria transmission, the World Health Organization recommends adding single low-dose (SLD) primaquine to artemisinin-based combination treatment in low transmission areas. However, uptake of this recommendation has been relatively slow given concerns about whether individual risks justify potential community benefit. This study was undertaken to generate comprehensive local data on the risk-benefit profile of SLD primaquine deployment in a pre-elimination area in South Africa.

METHODS

This randomized, controlled open-label trial investigated adding a single low primaquine dose on day 3 to standard artemether-lumefantrine treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Efficacy, safety and tolerability of artemether-lumefantrine and primaquine treatment were assessed on days 3, 7, 14, 28 and 42. Lumefantrine concentrations were assayed from dried blood spot samples collected on day 7.

RESULTS

Of 217 patients screened, 166 were enrolled with 140 randomized on day 3, 70 to each study arm (primaquine and no primaquine). No gametocytes were detected by either microscopy or PCR in any of the follow-up samples collected after randomization on day 3, precluding assessment of primaquine efficacy. Prevalence of the CYP2D6*4, CYP2D6*10 and CYP2D6*17 mutant alleles was low with allelic frequencies of 0.02, 0.11 and 0.16, respectively; none had the CYP2D6*4/*4 variant associated with null activity. Among 172 RDT-positive patients G6PD-genotyped, 24 (14%) carried the G6PD deficient (A-) variant. Median haemoglobin concentrations were similar between treatment arms throughout follow-up. A third of participants had a haemoglobin drop > 2 g/dL; this was not associated with primaquine treatment but may be associated with G6PD genotype [52.9% (9/17) with A- genotype vs. 31% (36/116) with other genotypes (p = 0.075)]. Day 7 lumefantrine concentrations and the number and nature of adverse events were similar between study arms; only one serious adverse event occurred (renal impairment in the no primaquine arm). The artemether-lumefantrine PCR-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response rate was 100%, with only one re-infection found among the 128 patients who completed 42-day follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Safety, tolerability, CYP2D6 and G6PD variant data from this study support the deployment of the WHO-recommended SLD primaquine without G6PD testing to advance malaria elimination in South African districts with low-intensity residual transmission. Trial registration Pan African Clinical Trial Registry, PACTR201611001859416. Registered 11 November 2016, https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=1859.

Identification of a de novo FOXP1 mutation and incidental discovery of inherited genetic variants contributing to a case of autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy

Background

Autism spectrum disorder is commonly co‐diagnosed intellectual disability, language disorder, anxiety, and epilepsy, however, symptom management is difficult due to the complex genetic nature of ASD.

Methods

We present a next‐generation sequencing‐based case study with both de novo and inherited genetic variants and highlight the impact of structural variants on post‐translational regulation of protein expression. Since management of symptoms has classically been through pharmaceutical therapies, a pharmacogenomics screen was also utilized to determine possible drug/gene interactions.

Results

A de novo variant was identified within the FOXP1 3′ untranslated regulatory region using exome sequencing. Additionally, inherited variants that likely contribute to the current and potential future traits were identified within the COMT, SLC6A4, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6 genes.

Conclusion

This study aims to elucidate how a collection of variant genotypes could potentially impact neural development resulting in a unique phenotype including ASD and epilepsy. Each gene's contribution to neural development is assessed, and the interplay of these genotypes is discussed. The results highlight the utility of exome sequencing in conjunction with pharmacogenomics screening when evaluating possible causes of and therapeutic treatments for ASD‐related symptoms.

Translating Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics to the Clinic: Progress in Human and Veterinary Medicine

As targeted personalized therapy becomes more widely used in human medicine, clients will expect the veterinary clinician to be able to implement an evidence-based strategy regarding both the prescribing of medicines and also recognition of the potential for adverse drug reactions (ADR) for their pet, at breed and individual level. This review aims to provide an overview of current developments and challenges in pharmacogenetics in medicine for a veterinary audience and to map these to developments in veterinary pharmacogenetics. Pharmacogenetics has been in development over the past 100 years but has been revolutionized following the publication of the human, and then veterinary species genomes. Genetic biomarkers called pharmacogenes have been identified as specific genetic loci on chromosomes which are associated with either positive or adverse drug responses. Pharmacogene variation may be classified according to the associated drug response, such as a change in (1) the pharmacokinetics; (2) the pharmacodynamics; (3) genes in the downstream pathway of the drug or (4) the effect of “off-target” genes resulting in a response that is unrelated to the intended target. There are many barriers to translation of pharmacogenetic information to the clinic, however, in human medicine, international initiatives are promising real change in the delivery of personalized medicine by 2025. We argue that for effective translation into the veterinary clinic, clinicians, international experts, and stakeholders must collaborate to ensure quality assurance and genetic test validation so that animals may also benefit from this genomics revolution.

CYP2D6 Pharmacogenetics Testing and Post-Cesarean Section Pain Scores-a Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE

Prospective observational study to analyze CYP2D6 pharmacogenetics in 55 Portuguese adult parturients undergoing elective cesarean section and to investigate the association between CYP2D6 alleles and pain score.

METHODS

DNA was extracted from peripheral blood by standard methods. Genetic analysis included allelic discrimination (CYP2D6*1, *2, *3, *4, *5, *6, *10, *17, and *41) and copy number determination with TaqMan probes by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Allele duplications were confirmed (long PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism). Theoretical metabolic profiles prediction was based on genetic data and activity scores. Association was investigated between genotypes and predicted phenotypes with pain scores. Statistical analysis was performed by using a χ2 test, and significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

The percentage of poor, intermediate, extensive, and ultrarapid metabolizers found were 9%, 38%, 46%, and 7%, respectively. The results reveal a positive association between alleles *4, *10, and pain.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive association was found between predicted reduced or null activity of CYP2D6 and increased pain. It can be hypothesized that if CYP2D6 activity is reduced, tyramine metabolism will decrease, resulting in reduced formation of endogenous dopamine. Consequently, activation of the signal transduction pathways that controls pain and analgesic effect may be reduced, leading to an increase in pain. Therefore, we would recommend CYP2D6 genotyping to anticipate the needs for analgesia, which will help to adjust opioid dose and maximize clinical efficacy while reducing side effects.

Effects of MAO-A and CYP450 on primaquine metabolism in healthy volunteers

Eliminating the Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite infection remains challenging. One of the main problems is its capacity to form hypnozoites that potentially lead to recurrent infections. At present, primaquine is the only drug used for the management of hypnozoites. However, the effects of primaquine may differ from one individual to another. The aim of this work is to determine new measures to reduce P. vivax recurrence, through primaquine metabolism and host genetics. A genetic study of MAO-A, CYP2D6, CYP1A2 and CYP2C19 and their roles in primaquine metabolism was undertaken of healthy volunteers (n = 53). The elimination rate constant (K_e) and the metabolite-to-parent drug concentration ratio (Cm/Cp) were obtained to assess primaquine metabolism. Allelic and genotypic analysis showed that polymorphisms MAO-A (rs6323, 891G>T), CYP2D6 (rs1065852, 100C>T) and CYP2C19 (rs4244285, 19154G>A) significantly influenced primaquine metabolism. CYP1A2 (rs762551, -163C>A) did not influence primaquine metabolism. In haplotypic analysis, significant differences in K_e (p = 0.00) and Cm/Cp (p = 0.05) were observed between individuals with polymorphisms, GG-MAO-A (891G>T), CT-CYP2D6 (100C>T) and GG-CYP2C19 (19154G>A), and individuals with polymorphisms, TT-MAO-A (891G>T), TT-CYP2D6 (100C>T) and AA-CYP2C19 (19154G>A), as well as polymorphisms, GG-MAO-A (891G>T), TT-CYP2D6 (100C>T) and GA-CYP2C19 (19154G>A). Thus, individuals with CYP2D6 polymorphisms had slower primaquine metabolism activity. The potential significance of genetic roles in primaquine metabolism and exploration of these might help to further optimise the management of P. vivax infection.

Identification of Cytochrome P450 Polymorphisms in Burn Patients and Impact on Fentanyl Pharmacokinetics: A Pilot Study

Pain management is critical for burn care. Unfortunately, interindividual variation in pharmacokinetics (PK) due to burn hypermetabolism and genetic polymorphisms can lead to treatment failures in this at-risk population. Analgesics may be affected by genetic polymorphisms affecting cytochrome P450 (CYP) drug metabolizing enzymes. Fentanyl is a common opiate primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 subtypes. Recent studies demonstrate CYP2D6 variants, affecting fentanyl PK. Functional CYP polymorphisms can significantly alter opiate levels resulting in inadequate analgesia or life-threatening toxicity. The goal of our study was to evaluate fentanyl PK and assess associations with CYP polymorphisms. We obtained samples from the previously banked blood of 13 patients (eight males and five females) with >20% TBSA burns. Mean (SD) patient age was 41.7 (14.5) years, and mean burn size was 25.8 (15.3) %TBSA. Plasma fentanyl was quantified, and CYP genotyping was performed. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using Monolix software (Lixsoft, France) with a two-compartment population model best-representing fentanyl profiles. Three CYP slow-metabolizing genotypes were identified, which included CYP2D6*9, CYP2D6*29, and CYP3A4*1B. All three patients with variant polymorphisms had increased serum fentanyl concentrations due to impaired clearance. This pilot study supports the need for further research in this topic, and CYP genotyping of individual patients prior to receiving opiate analgesics to inform precision-guided decisions, improve therapeutic efficacy, and, most importantly, increase patient well-being and safety.