Dangerous Neanderthal genes
20% of Europeans need to reduce the dosage of drugs due to Neanderthal genes
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
The discovery of scientists refers to those rare cases when the connection with ancient people has a direct impact on modern clinical practice. It turned out that two variants of Neanderthal genes slow down the ability of the human body to remove drugs, so for about one in five Europeans, the dosages of common drugs should be adjusted to reduce the risks of toxicity.
Neanderthals are the closest relatives of the ancestors of modern humans. It is believed that modern Europeans and Asians received about 1-2% of the genome from Neanderthals. In a new paper, scientists from Germany and Sweden have discovered that two important genetic variants that affect the body's ability to remove drugs are inherited from Neanderthals, according to the website of the Karolinska Institute.
Article by Haeggström et al. The clinically relevant CYP2C8*3 and CYP2C9*2 haplotype is inherited from Neandertals published in Pharmacogenomics Journal – VM.
Scientists have identified DNA segments inherited from Neanderthals carrying two enzymes from the cytochrome P450 family that reduced the body's ability to remove a number of common medications, such as the anticoagulant warfarin, antiepileptic phenytoin, as well as statins and painkillers, including ibuprofen.
It is believed that about 20% of modern Europeans have these gene variants, so therapeutic dosages of drugs for them should be selected individually, including on the basis of genetic tests, in order to prevent severe complications, the authors emphasize.
"Our discovery relates to those cases where the connection with Neanderthals has a direct impact on clinical practice," commented co—author Hugo Zeberg. Scientists hope that the findings will have a direct impact on personalized medicine to assess the correct dosage of drugs based on the genetic and other characteristics of a particular patient.
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