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The genetic polymorphism affecting the CYP3A5 enzyme is responsible for interindividual and interethnic variability in the metabolism of CYP3A5 substrates. The full extent of the CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism was analysed in French Caucasian, Gabonese and Tunisian populations using a polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) strategy. In the three populations, eight, 17 and ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), respectively, were identified, among which nine correspond to rare new mutations. Also identified were 16 alleles including eight new allelic variants. Significant differences were observed in the distribution of these alleles. Particularly, the frequency of the CYP3A5*3C null allele in French Caucasians (81.3%) and in Tunisians (80.0%) is higher than in the Gabonese population (12.5%) (p < 0.001). Considering the CYP3A5 genotypes of the tested individuals, only 10.4% of French Caucasians and 30.0% of Tunisians were identified as CYP3A5 expressors. In contrast, 90.0% of Gabonese subjects appear to express the CYP3A5 protein.

The prostacyclin synthase enzyme (CYP8A1, EC 5.3.99.4) is the unique member of family 8 in the cytochrome P450 superfamily. Inheritable interindividual differences in prostacyclin production may be implicated in the pathogenesis of human vascular diseases. Recently, we functionally characterized a variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the 5'-proximal regulatory region of CYP8A1. In this study, we extended the CYP8A1 VNTR polymorphism analysis using a panel of DNA samples from distinct ethnic populations: Tunisians, Gaboneses and French Caucasians. A total of nine VNTR were detected, three of which represent new variants in the CYP8A1 promoter region. Differences among the three ethnic panels in the frequency of the VNTR variants were observed. This study represents the first multi-population-based analysis of the frequency and distribution of VNTR polymorphism affecting the CYP8A1 promoter.