Publication | Open Access
Interindividual Variability in the Prevalence of OPRM1 and CYP2B6 Gene Variations May Identify Drug-Susceptible Populations
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2011
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Opioid EpidemicPhenotypic VariationGeneticsGenetic EpidemiologyHuman PolymorphismPharmacotherapyDrug AssessmentInterindividual VariabilityDrug ResistanceMolecular PharmacologyAddiction MedicineDrug MonitoringPharmacogenomicsHeroin AddictionDrug ToxicityPopulationHealth SciencesVariant InterpretationFatal PoisoningsBehavioral PharmacologyGenetic FactorPharmacologySubstance AbuseAddictionDrug DiscoveryForensic ToxicologyOpioid OverdoseOprm1 A118g VariationMedicineOpioid Use Disorder
Methadone is used worldwide for the treatment of heroin addiction; however, fatal poisonings are increasingly reported. The prevalence of CYP2B6 and μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene variations were examined between a postmortem population where the deaths were associated with methadone and a live nondrug-using control population using Taqman™ SNP Genotyping assays. The CYP2B6*6 allele was higher in the postmortem population, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.92). The CYP2B6 T750C promoter variation was similar in frequency for both populations. Linkage between T750C and CYP2B6*6 was identified for both populations (P < 0.01). The prevalence of the OPRM1 A118G variation was significantly higher in the control population (P = 0.0046), which might indicate a protective mechanism against opioid toxicity. Individual susceptibility to methadone may be determined by screening for CYP2B6*6.