Objective The molecular basis that makes a therapeutic drug become toxic has an enormous clinical relevance: it has been estimated that the fatal adverse drug reactions are between the 4th and 6th leading cause of death in developed countries. In addition, the lack of therapeutic effect of a drug by a deficient formation of the active metabolite or by its fast elimination can also lead to death.The cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are the most relevant enzymes catalysing the biotransformation of drugs, and many of the fatal adverse drug reactions, as well as a lack of therapeutic effect of drugs, are due to an abnormal CYP activity. In the human liver the most important enzyme catalysing the biotransformation of drugs is the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4).This CYP is involved in the metabolism of 50% of currently used therapeutic drugs. As a consequence, variations in CYP3A4 activity have a major impact on pharmacokinetics and metabolic fate of drugs, drug-drug interactions and toxicology. In the population there are great differences in CYP3A4 activity and the result is a great inter-individual variability in the susceptibility to toxics, optimal drug doses and adverse reactions.Nowadays, CYP3A4 activity variability is unpredictable, since the molecular mechanisms responsible for it are still unknown. Several studies have shown that this variability is genetically determined, ruling out environmental factors. In this project we intend to identify the critical mechanisms regulating CYP3A4 expression and then investigate whether these mechanisms are susceptible of inter-individual variability.In a first step, the obtained information (genetic markers) will be used in connection to cardiovascular diseases, trying to find an association between them and the pharmacological effect obtained with different drugs. Finally, we intent find a simple test, in connection with selected genetic markers, able to predict CYP3A4 activity. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseasesmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmacokineticsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacyadverse drug reactionsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinetoxicologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes Programme(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Topic(s) MOBILITY-4.1 - Marie Curie European Reintegration Grants (ERG) Call for proposal FP6-2002-MOBILITY-11 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERG - Marie Curie actions-European Re-integration Grants Coordinator FUNDACIÓN CENTRO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACIONES ONCOLÓGICAS CARLOS III Address Sinesio delgado, 6 Madrid Spain See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00
