Why do whites and blacks react differently to treatment
Scientists from the University of Chicago and Affymetrix (Santa Clara, California), using a set of exons developed by the company (coding fragments of DNA molecules), demonstrated that the expression levels of approximately 5% of the 9156 analyzed human genes differ significantly in individuals of different races. As a result of the analysis of the entire genome, the authors revealed significant differences in several unrelated processes, especially those associated with the functioning of genes involved in the synthesis of antibodies to potential pathogens.
As a material, the scientists used lymphoblastoid cell lines obtained from the blood cells of 180 healthy individuals. In total, 60 families consisting of a mother, father and child were involved in the work. 30 families were represented by residents of Utah of European origin and 30 – Nigerians from the city of Ibadan, belonging to the Yoruba people.
The main purpose of the work was to study the genes that regulate the response of people to medicines, including anticancer drugs. The authors wanted to understand the causes of the different severity of toxic side effects that develop in different individuals in response to taking the same medications and, based on the data obtained, develop a strategy for identifying patients belonging to the corresponding risk groups.
However, in the course of the study, they revealed a number of other differences, some of which, including variations in the immune response to the penetration of microbial agents into the body, were quite expected. The results of earlier studies have shown that African Americans are more predisposed to infections caused by a number of bacteria, including those causing periodontitis Porphyromonas gingivalis, than people of the Caucasian race.
There were also completely unexpected findings, for example, significant differences in the expression levels of genes involved in fundamental cellular mechanisms, including ribosomal protein synthesis, transport RNA processing, and a fragment of a complex communication system mediated by the Notch signaling protein that controls and coordinates the basic functions of the cell.
Understanding at the genetic level the reasons why different populations and different individuals of the same population react differently to medications can significantly improve the effectiveness of treatment of all diseases. Work in this direction has started quite recently and is rapidly gaining momentum.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ScienceDaily
03.03.2008