Genetic diversity of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 polymorphisms in North African populations from Morocco and Tunisia.

The genes CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 form part of a cluster of cytochrome P450 genes involved in drug metabolism reactions. The allelic variants of these genes CYP3A4*1B, CYP3A4*3, CYP3A4*17 and CYP3A5*3 have been linked both to the reduced catalytic activity of cytochromes and to prostate cancer risk in whites, though scarce data exist for North African populations. The main objective of this study was to describe CYP3A4*3, CYP3A4*17, CYP3A4*1B and CYP3A5*3 allele frequencies and haplotype variation in Moroccan Berbers and the general Tunisian population.

Ethnic composition and genetic differentiation of the Libyan population: insights on Alu polymorphisms.

Background: It is thought that the ancient population of Libya was mainly composed of Saharan Berbers. Socio-geographic conditions and historical events have exerted some changes on the composition of the present-day Libyan population.

Aim: To screen a set of autosomal Alu markers in a representative sample of the general Libyan population in order to study its ethnic and genetic structure and to re-examine its genetic relationships with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern groups.

Geographical and social influences on genetic diversity within the Egyptian population: analyses of Alu insertion polymorphisms.

Background: The geographical location of Egypt at the crossroads of several major cultural areas between North Africa and the Middle East has contributed to its population history.

Aim: To analyse the genetic structure of the population living in two geographical parts of Egypt.

Subjects And Methods: A sample of 112 Egyptians from the North African part of Egypt (Ismailia sample) and a sample of 52 Egyptians from the Asian part Sinai, have been analysed using 10 Alu insertion polymorphisms.

Genetic position of Bahrain natives among wider Middle East populations according to Alu insertion polymorphisms.

Background: The genetic differentiation of Bahrain natives is unclear because of the absence of adequate genetic studies.

Aim: Eight Alu insertion polymorphisms have been analysed in Bahrainis and southern Iranians to examine the origins of Bahrainis and to determine their genetic position among wider Middle East populations.

Subjects And Methods: Two representative samples of 97 Bahrainis and 65 southern Iranians have been determined.

Genetic differentiation and origin of the Jordanian population: an analysis of Alu insertion polymorphisms.

Aim: Although much of Jordan is covered by desert, its north-western region forms part of the Fertile Crescent region that had given a rich past to Jordanians. This past, scarcely described by historians, is not yet clarified by sufficient genetic data. Thus in this paper we aim to determine the genetic differentiation of the Jordanian population and to discuss its origin.

Research of the origin of a particular Tunisian group using a physical marker and Alu insertion polymorphisms.

The aim of this study was to show how, in some particular circumstances, a physical marker can be used along with molecular markers in the research of an ancient people movement. A set of five Alu insertions was analysed in 42 subjects from a particular Tunisian group (El Hamma) that has, unlike most of the Tunisian population, a very dark skin, similar to that of sub-Saharans, and in 114 Tunisian subjects (Gabes sample) from the same governorate, but outside the group. Our results showed that the El Hamma group is genetically midway between sub-Saharan populations and North Africans, whereas the Gabes sample is clustered among North Africans.

Mixed origin of the current Tunisian population from the analysis of Alu and Alu/STR compound systems.

During successive historical periods, Tunisia has been a crossroads of multiple civilizations and their corresponding key population movements. The aim of this study was to provide genetic information relating to the mixed origin of the Tunisian population, and to analyze its genetic relationship with other North African and Mediterranean populations. A set of 16 Alu and 3 Alu/STR compound systems has been analyzed in 268 autochthonous Tunisians from the north-center and the south of the country.

Polymorphism FXII 46C>T and cardiovascular risk: additional data from Spanish and Tunisian patients.

Background: Previous studies showed an association between Coagulation Factor XII 46C>T polymorphism and variation in FXII plasma levels, as 46C>T seems to affect the translation efficiency. Case-control studies in Spanish samples indicated that genotype T/T is an independent risk factor for venous thrombosis, ischemic stroke and acute coronary artery disease. In this study, we tried to reaffirm the importance of 46C>T in two samples from Spain and Tunisia.

Apolipoprotein gene polymorphisms and plasma levels in healthy Tunisians and patients with coronary artery disease.

Aim: To analyze apolipoprotein gene polymorphisms in the Tunisian population and to check the relation of these polymorphisms and homocysteine, lipid and apolipoprotein levels to the coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: In healthy blood donors and in patients with CAD complicated by myocardial infarction (MI) four apolipoprotein gene polymorphisms [APO (a) PNR, APO E, APO CI and APO CII] were determined and plasma levels of total homocysteine, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HLD-C) and apolipoproteins (apo A-I, Apo B, Apo E) were measured.

Results: Analysis of the four apolipoprotein gene polymorphisms shows a relative genetic homogeneity between Tunisian population and those on the other side of Mediterranean basin.