Gene expression and disease in African Americans

Gene expression and disease in African Americans

NIMHD-Funded Study Reveals Gene Expression in the Liver Holds a Clue to Disease Susceptibility in African Americans

Research has continued to show that African Americans are more likely than Whites to be more susceptible to certain diseases and to have different responses to medication. A study published in NPJ Genomic Medicine reveals that the amount of West African ancestry that a person has determines how much certain genes are expressed in their liver cells. Some of those unique patterns of expression reduce their ability to break down certain drugs and increase susceptibility to certain diseases. The study highlights how disease susceptibility and response to certain drugs might not be the same for all populations.