Peter J. Wedlund, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
College of Pharmacy
Phone:
(859) 257-5788
Fax:
(859) 257-7564
e-mail:
pjwedl1@uky.edu
|
Research Interest My interests are
in drug metabolism and how genetic factors may affect drug metabolism and drug toxicity. I
am interested in utilizing analytical methods to identify individual differences in drug
metabolism which are of clinical and/or toxicological importance. My lab utilizes some of
the tools of molecular genetics to identify genetic variations in gene expression like the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A major research objective o my lab is to define the
clinical conditions when screening for genetic variability is justified to improve
therapeutic outcomes and diminish therapeutic costs in patients. In collaboration with
others, this research is aimed at identifying the clinical value of genetic testing as a
means of improving patient care.
My lab is currently involved in several projects dealing with genetic variability in
the cytochrome P450-2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme. We are interested in learning to what extent
adverse drug affects among psychiatric patients are more prominent in individuals with
extremes in CYP2D6 activity. We want to know when the cost of ignoring this genetic
variability would exceed the expense of testing patients for it.
My lab is also interested in evaluating patients who take extreme doses of Coumadin (< 2mg/day or > 25 mg/day). Patients
who receive very low doses of Coumadin (warfarin) express a deficiency in the cytochrome
P450-2C9) enzyme, while some patients who take extremely large doses of Coumadin (> 50 mg/day) have a diminished sensitivity to the drug. The
problems in treating these patients can add thousands of dollars to their medical
expenses.
Research Publications/Presentations
PJ Wedlund, S Kimura, FJ Gonzalez and DW Nebert: I462V mutation in the
human CYP1A1 gene: Lack of correlation with either the Msp I 1.9 Kb (M2) allele of CYP1A1
inducibility in a 3-generation family of East Mediterranean descent. Phamacogenetics
4:21-26, 1994
PJ Wedlund and GR Wilkinson: In vivo and in vitro measurements of
CYP2C19 activity. Methods in Enzymology vol. 272, Chapter 11, pp. 105-114, 1996.
S Chen, W-H Chou, RA Blouin, Z-P Mao, LL Humphries, CQ Meek WL Martin,
LR Hays, JR Neill and PJ Wedlund: The cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme polymorphism:
Screening costs and influence on clinical outcomes in psychiatry. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther.
60: (Oct., in press), 1996. |
