P450 Pharmacogenetics in Indigenous North American Populations

• Published in: Journal of Personalized Medicine
• Main Authors: Lindsay M. Henderson, Katrina G. Claw, Erica L. Woodahl, Renee F. Robinson, Bert B. Boyer, Wylie Burke, Kenneth E. Thummel
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018
• Subjects: American Indian; Alaska Native; First Nations; Inuit; Mexican Amerindians; cytochrome P450; pharmacogenetics; allele frequency; drug metabolism; Medicine; R; Canada; Indian; inuit; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm8010009; https://doaj.org/article/3654b0c93e0d429bb4334d0ff6ad69b3

Indigenous North American populations, including American Indian and Alaska Native peoples in the United States, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples in Canada and Amerindians in Mexico, are historically under-represented in biomedical research, including genomic research on drug disposition and response. Without adequate representation in pharmacogenetic studies establishing genotype-phenotype relationships, Indigenous populations may not benefit fully from new innovations in precision medicine testing to tailor and improve the safety and efficacy of drug treatment, resulting in health care disparities. The purpose of this review is to summarize and evaluate what is currently known about cytochrome P450 genetic variation in Indigenous populations in North America and to highlight the importance of including these groups in future pharmacogenetic studies for implementation of personalized drug therapy.