UDP-glucuronosyltransferase genetic variation in North African populations: a comparison with African and European data.

BACKGROUND: Genetic variation in glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) is crucial in drug metabolism and risk of some diseases.

AIM: To examine genetic variation in UGT in North African populations.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Allele frequencies of SNPs UGT1A424Thr , UGT1A448Val , UGT2B1585Tyr , UGT2B15523Thr and UGT2B17 CNV deletion from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya were compared to European and Sub-Saharan populations.

RESULTS: North Africans are the group with the highest genetic heterogeneity given by internal differences in the occurrence of UGT2B17 deletion, UGT1A448Val and UGT1A4 haplotypes. UGT2B15 SNPs differentiate Sub-Saharans from the rest of the populations.

CONCLUSION: North African populations show a high frequency of carriers of UGT2B15523Thr , a variant linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. High Atlas Moroccans and Algerians show low frequency of UGT2B17del , a variant associated with high concentrations of testosterone and oestradiol.