Abstract
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) catalyzes the O-methylation of catechol hormones, neurotransmitters and certain drugs. It is subject to genetic polymorphism and ethnic differences. High red blood cell (RBC) COMT activity has been correlated with a poor response to levodopa treatment in Parkinson's disease. RBC COMT was determined in a Norwegian population (n=213) of whom 115 were Saami (Lapps).
The Saami had 16.5% lower RBC COMT activity compared to a non-Saami population sample from the northern part of Norway (n=50), 13.9 vs. 16.4 units/ml RBC (U) (P=0.04).
This is the first report of any population with lower RBC COMT activity than a Caucasian population. A wide range of RBC COMT activities was found in the entire population examined (1.3–38.3 U).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Axelrod J, Tomchick R (1958) Enzymatic O-methlation of epinephrine and other catechols. J Biol Chem 233: 702–705
Guldberg HC, Marsden CA (1975) Catechol-O-methyltransferase: pharmacological aspects and physiological role. Pharmacol Rev 27: 135–206
Rivera-Calimlim L, Reilly DK (1984) Difference in erythrocyte catechol-0-methyltransferase activity between Orientals and Caucasians: difference in levodopa tolerance. Clin Pharmacol Ther 35: 804–809
Reilly DK, Rivera-Calimlim L, Van Dyke D (1980) Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity: a determinant of levodopa response. Clin Pharmacol Ther 28: 278–286
Weinshilboum RM, Raymond FA (1977) Inheritance of low erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in man. Am J Hum Genet 29: 125–135
Boudíková B, Szumlanski C, Maidak B, Weinshilboum R (1990) Human liver catechol-O-methyltransferase pharmacogenetics. Clin Pharmacol Ther 48: 381–389
Floderus Y, Wetterberg L (1981) The inheritance of human erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase activity. Clin Genet 19: 392–395
Spielman RS, Weinshilboum RM (1981) Genetics of red cell COMT activity: analysis of thermal stability and family data. Am J Med Genet 10: 279–290
Siervogel RM, Weinshilboum R, Wilson AF, Elston RC (1984) Major gene model for the inheritance of catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in five large families. Am J Med Genet 19: 315–323
Nissinen E, Tuominen R, Perhoniemi V, Kaakkola S (1988) Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in human and rat small intestine. Life Sci 42: 2609–2614
Weinshilboum RM (1978) Human erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase: correlation with lung and kidney activity. Life Sci 22: 625–630
Nei M, Roychoudhury AK (1982) Genetic relationship and evolution of human races. In: Hecht MK, Wallace B, Prance GT (eds) Evolutionary biology, vol. 14. Plenum Press, New York, pp 1–49
Eriksson AW (1988) Anthropology and health in Lapps. Coll Antropol 12: 197–235
Klemetsdal B, Straume B, Wist E, Aarbakke J (1993) Identification of factors regulating thiopurine methyltransferase activity in a Norwegian population. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 44: 147–152
Floderus Y, Sääf J, Ross SB, Wetterberg L (1981) Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in human erythrocytes: Methodological aspects. Uppsala J Med Sci 86: 309–318
Raymond FA, Weinshilboum RM (1975) Microassay of human erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase: Removal of inhibitory calcium ion with chelating resin. Clin Chim Acta 58: 185–194
SAS Institute (1988) SAS/STAT™ User's Guide, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA
STSC (1991) Statgraphics User Manual, STSC, Rockville, MD, USA
Olsen H, Mørland J (1981) Sulfadimidine acetylation in Norwegians. Acta Med Scand 210: 119–124
Klemetsdal B, Tollefsen E, Loennechen T, Johnsen K, Utsi E, Gisholt K, Wist E, Aarbakke J (1992) Interethnic difference in thiopurine methyltransferase activity. Clin Pharmacol Ther 51: 24–31
Floderus Y, Ross SB, Wetterberg L (1981) Erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in a Swedish population. Clin Genet 19: 389–392
Szumlanski CL, Honchel R, Scott MC, Weinshilboum RM (1992) Human liver thiopurine methyltransferase pharmacogenetics: biochemical properties, liver-erythrocyte correlation and presence of isozymes. Pharmacogenetics 2: 148–159
Agathopoulos A, Nicolopoulos D, Matsaniotis N, Papadatos C (1971) Biochemical changes of catechol-O-methyltransferase during development of human liver. Pediatrics 47: 125–128
Nei M, Saitou N (1986) Genetic relationship of human populations and ethnic differences in reaction to drugs and food. In: Kalow W, Goedde HW, Agarwal DP (eds) Ethnic differences in reactions to drugs and xenobiotics. Liss, New York, pp 21–37
Barbujani G, Jacquez GM, Ligi L (1990) Diversity of some gene frequencies in European and Asian populations. V. Steep multilocus clines. Am J Hum Genet 47: 867–875
Männistö PT, Kaakkola S (1989) New selective COMT inhibitors: useful adjuncts for Parkinson's disease? Trends Pharmacol Sci 10: 54–56
Männistö PT, Kaakkola S (1990) Rationale for selective COMT inhibitors as adjuncts in the drug treatment of Parkinson's disease. Pharmacol Toxicol 66: 317–323
Muenter MD, Sharpless NS, Tyce GM (1972) Plasma 3-O-methyldopa in l-dopa therapy of Parkinson's disease. Mayo Clin Proc 47: 389–395
Rivera-Calimlim L, Tandon D, Anderson F, Joynt R (1977) The clinical picture and plasma levodopa metabolite profile of parkinsonian nonresponders. Treatment with levodopa and decarboxylase inhibitor. Arch Neurol 34: 228–232
Muenter MD, Dinapoli RP, Sharpless NS, Tyce GM (1973) 3-O-methyldopa, l-dopa and trihexyphenidyl in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Mayo Clin Proc 48: 173–183
Nutt JG, Woodward WR, Gancher ST, Merrick D (1987) 3-O-methyldopa and the response to levodopa in Parkinson's disease. Ann Neurol 21: 584–588
Reches A, Fahn S (1982) 3-O-methyldopa blocks dopa metabolism in rat corpus striatum. Ann Neurol 12: 267–271
Feuerstein C, Tanche M, Serre F, Gavend M, Pellat J, Perret J (1977) Does O-methyl-dopa play a role in levodopa-induced dyskinesias? Acta Neurol Scand 56: 79–82
Mena MA, Muradas V, Bazan E, Reiriz J, de Yebenes JG (1986) Pharmacokinetics of l-dopa in patients with Parkinson's disease. Adv Neurol 45: 481–486
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Klemetsdal, B., Straume, B., Giverhaug, T. et al. Low catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in a Saami population. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 46, 231–235 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192554
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192554