SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

UGT1A1

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

Meulengracht (Gilbert) syndrome (Meulengracht's disease) leads to mild, chronically stable or intermittent, non-conjugated hyperbilirubinemia in the absence of structural liver disease or hemolysis. It is the most common disorder of the hepatic bilirubin metabolism and one of the most common causes of neonatal jaundice. Serum bilirubin concentration is about 1-6 mg/dl.

 

Meulengracht (Gilbert) syndrome is caused by a congenital, autosomal recessive restriction of the synthesis of bilirubin-UDP-glucuronyltransferase to about 30% residual activity. In most cases, the synthesis disorder is caused by a dinucleotide expansion in the TATA box region of the UGT1A1 gene (UGT1A1*28 allele, rs3064744), which reduces the transcription rate of the gene. The frequency of homozygous carriers of this promoter expansion is about 10-19% in the general population, with clinically manifested cases estimated at 2-12%. The phenotype is modulated by environmental factors and diet (fat, alcohol, and nicotine intake). In addition, carriers of UGT1A1 promoter expansion should expect intolerance symptoms during chemotherapy with irinotecan.

 

References

Memon et al. 2016, Pediatr Res. 79:378 / Strassburg 2010, Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 24:555 / Perera et al. 2008, Pharmacotherapy 28: 755 / Teng et al. 2007, Clin Genet 72:321 / Servedio et al. 2005, Hum Mutat 25:325

GENES

UGT1A1

ASSOCIATED TESTS

How to order

LATEST ARTICLES

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing global health threats, and accurate identification and surveillance of multidrug-resistant...

Read more

Colorectal cancer remains a significant health concern globally. While genetic factors play a crucial role in its development, identifying the exact ...

Read more

A new meta-analysis links trans-kingdom gut microbiota (bacteria, eukaryotes, viruses, archaea) to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) response in canc...

Read more

Reproductive health is a fundamental aspect of human well-being, affecting individuals and communities worldwide [1]. It encompasses a wide range of ...

Read more

It seems as though everyone is talking about artificial intelligence, usually referred to as AI, these days! Indeed, not only are AI tools now access...

Read more

Orphan drugs are those developed specifically for the treatment of rare diseases. Within the pharmaceutical industry, the drug development process is...

Read more

A study of 629 pregnancies with ultrasound-detected anomalies found that exome sequencing identified pathogenic variants in 14% of cases. The detecti...

Read more

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the breast cells. Genetic changes in the DNA of the healthy breast cells can lead to the formati...

Read more

Cardiovascular diseases affect the heart and blood vessels and are a leading cause of illness and death. Some are hereditary, and genetic testing can...

Read more

A recent study tracked molecular changes in 108 people over time, revealing that aging involves critical shifts around ages 44 and 60. These changes ...

Read more