Background |
Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes. CYP2D6 is located in the endoplasmic reticulum where it oxidizes substrates such as drugs and environmental chemicals. CYP2D6 metabolizes more than 25% of current commonly used drugs including antidepressants, antipsychotics, analgesics, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, antiarrythmics, and antiemetics. The CYP2D6 gene is highly polymorphic in humans, resulting in phenotypes that vary from poor metabolizer to super metabolizer. A patient's CYP2D6 genotype was shown to be a good predictor of drug response and side effects and is thus used to guide treatments. Although abundantly expressed in liver, CYP2D6 is also expressed in other organs including brain. In brain, CYP2D6 and other CYP family members are expressed in a cell-specific, region-specific manner. CYP2D6 functions as a neuroprotective enzyme that increases with age and is induced by nicotine and alcohol. |