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Influence of ethnicity on pharmacogenetic variation in the Ghanaian population

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 9, pages 373–379 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

It has been well established that the frequencies of genomic variants can vary greatly between the populations of different countries. We sought to quantify the intra-population variability in Ghana to determine the value of genotyping studies done at a nationwide level. Further, we investigated the differences between the Ghanaian and other African populations to determine the quality of genomic representation provided by a small subgroup within the continent with regard to the general population. We genotyped 934 unrelated Ghanaian individuals for 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from genes defined as clinically relevant based on their reported roles in the transport of, metabolism of, or as targets of the medicines listed in the World Health Organization Essential Medicines list. Populations within Ghana and between nations in Western Africa were genetically cohesive. In contrast, populations in other areas of Africa were genetically divergent. Gene allele frequency also differed significantly between the populations in African nations and the United States for several of the SNPs. These results demonstrate that national populations in similar geographic regions, like Africa, may have widely varying genetic allele frequencies for clinically relevant SNPs. Further genotyping studies of specific populations are necessary to provide the best medical care to all individuals.

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Abbreviations

5-FU:

5-fluorouracil

DNA:

deoxyribonucleic acid

HIV:

human immunodeficiency virus

ins:

insertion

NSAID:

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

PCR:

polymerase chain reaction

SNP:

single nucleotide polymorphism

US FDA:

United States of America Food and Drug Administration

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Acknowledgements

The efforts of JR Revollo, AA Motsinger-Reif, CR King, TJ Scott-Horton, C Murphy and M-M. Ameyaw are greatly appreciated. This work was supported in part by the NIH Pharmacogenetics Research Network (GM63340; http://create.unc.edu).

Author information

Author notes

  1. D J Van Booven

    Present address: 5Current address: Washington University School of Medicine, Center for Pharmacogenomics, St Louis, MO, USA,

  2. E J Peters

    Present address: 6Current address: Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA,

  3. R M Engen

    Present address: 7Current address: Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics House Staff, Cincinnati, OH, USA,

  4. H D Kannall

    Present address: 8Current address: Monsanto Company, St Louis, MO, USA,

  5. S Marsh

    Present address: 9Current address: Pharmacogenomics Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,

  6. J L Yen-Revollo, D J Van Booven, J M Hoskins, R M Engen, H L McLeod and S Marsh: On behalf of the PharmacoGenetics for Every Nation Initiative (PGENI)

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UNC Institute for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    J L Yen-Revollo, E J Peters, J M Hoskins & H L McLeod

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA

    D J Van Booven, R M Engen, H D Kannall & S Marsh

  3. Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana

    D Ofori-Adjei

Authors
  1. J L Yen-Revollo
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  2. D J Van Booven
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  8. H L McLeod
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  9. S Marsh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H L McLeod.

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Yen-Revollo, J., Van Booven, D., Peters, E. et al. Influence of ethnicity on pharmacogenetic variation in the Ghanaian population. Pharmacogenomics J 9, 373–379 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/tpj.2009.28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/tpj.2009.28

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