UDP-glucuronosyltransferase genetic variation in North African populations: a comparison with African and European data

<b>Background:</b> Genetic variation in glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) is crucial in drug metabolism and risk of some diseases. <b>Aim:</b> To examine genetic variation in UGT in North African populations. <b>Subjects and methods:</b> Allele frequencies of SNPs <i>UGT1A4^24Thr</i>, <i>UGT1A4^48Val</i>, <i>UGT2B15^85Tyr</i>, <i>UGT2B15^523Thr</i> and <i>UGT2B17</i> CNV deletion from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya were compared to European and Sub-Saharan populations. <b>Results:</b> North Africans are the group with the highest genetic heterogeneity given by internal differences in the occurrence of <i>UGT2B17</i> deletion, <i>UGT1A4^48Val </i>and <i>UGT1A4</i> haplotypes. <i>UGT2B15</i> SNPs differentiate Sub-Saharans from the rest of the populations. <b>Conclusion:</b> North African populations show a high frequency of carriers of <i>UGT2B15^523Thr</i>, a variant linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. High Atlas Moroccans and Algerians show low frequency of <i>UGT2B17^del</i>, a variant associated with high concentrations of testosterone and oestradiol.