BACKGROUND: CYP2E1 encodes an enzyme which is mainly involved in bioactivation of potential carcinogens such as N-nitrosamines. Polymorphisms in the gene have been reported to be associated with cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate genotype distributions and allele frequencies of five CYP2E1 polymorphisms in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Two hundred healthy individuals of an Iranian population from the southwest were included in this study. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and Tetra-ARMS PCR methods were applied for CYP2E1 genotyping. RESULTS: The allele frequencies for *5B, *6, *7B, *2, and *3 were calculated to be 1.5%, 16%, 28.5%, 0%, and 2.75% respectively. Results of this study showed that no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of five single nucleotide polymorphisms with respect to the gender and tribes. The chi-square test showed that the genotype frequencies of CYP2E1*5B were similar to Caucasians, but the distribution of CYP2E1*6 genotypes was similar to Asians. The frequencies of CYP2E1*2 (0%) and CYP2E1*3 (2.75%) alleles were within the range for Caucasians and Orientals. In the case of CYP2E1*7B, the data werelimited. Accordingly, the results were only compared with Europeans and the comparison showed significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, ethnic and geographic differences may explain discrepancies in the prevalence of CYP2E1 polymorphisms.
BACKGROUND: CYP2E1 encodes an enzyme which is mainly involved in bioactivation of potential carcinogens such as N-nitrosamines. Polymorphisms in the gene have been reported to be associated with cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate genotype distributions and allele frequencies of five CYP2E1 polymorphisms in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Two hundred healthy individuals of an Iranian population from the southwest were included in this study. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and Tetra-ARMS PCR methods were applied for CYP2E1 genotyping. RESULTS: The allele frequencies for *5B, *6, *7B, *2, and *3 were calculated to be 1.5%, 16%, 28.5%, 0%, and 2.75% respectively. Results of this study showed that no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of five single nucleotide polymorphisms with respect to the gender and tribes. The chi-square test showed that the genotype frequencies of CYP2E1*5B were similar to Caucasians, but the distribution of CYP2E1*6 genotypes was similar to Asians. The frequencies of CYP2E1*2 (0%) and CYP2E1*3 (2.75%) alleles were within the range for Caucasians and Orientals. In the case of CYP2E1*7B, the data werelimited. Accordingly, the results were only compared with Europeans and the comparison showed significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, ethnic and geographic differences may explain discrepancies in the prevalence of CYP2E1 polymorphisms.