CYP2A6 is the detox enzyme responsible for eliminating nicotine. There is a link between this enzyme’s activity, smoking, and lung cancer risk. Read on to find more about this enzyme, how having a particular gene variant may affect you, and the factors that increase or decrease its activity.<\/p>\n
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CYP2A6 enzyme is one of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs). These are enzymes that eliminate most of the drugs and toxins<\/strong> from the human body (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Read more about CYPs here.<\/a><\/p>\n This enzyme metabolizes:<\/p>\n This enzyme is mainly found in the liver. It accounts for about 10% of the total liver CYP enzyme content (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n At much lower levels, it can be found in some other tissues, especially the mucous lining of the nose (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Some people completely lack the functional CYP2A6 gene and enzyme<\/strong> (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n There is a clear link between CYP2A6 enzyme activity, smoking behavior, and lung cancer risk (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n This enzyme can activate several cancer-causing agents found in tobacco smoke and diet, such as nitrosamines (e.g. NNK) and aflatoxins (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Several studies show that gene variants that decrease this enzyme’s activity also decrease the risk of lung cancer (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n The activity of this enzyme can contribute to liver damage. A study showed that being a CYP2A6 poor metabolizer type (having lower enzyme activity) protects against liver cirrhosis (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n This gene has around 40 variants (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n The activity of this enzyme can vary up to 12-fold, based on the particular gene variant (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Slow CYP2A6 metabolism (low activity) is associated with lower cigarette consumption, lower dependence, and higher cessation rates in adults (421 subjects) (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n However, slow metabolism was also associated with more cigarettes smoked per day and a greater dependence in adolescents (296 smokers) (R<\/a>, R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Some people completely lack this gene (R<\/a>). They are labeled as CYP2A6*4.<\/p>\n CYP2A6*4 is associated with a lower risk of lung cancer (242 subjects) (R<\/a>).<\/p>\nCYP2A6 Function<\/span><\/h3>\n
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CYP2A6 Location<\/span><\/h3>\n
CYP2A6 The Bad<\/span><\/h2>\n
CYP2A6 Gene Polymorphism<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n