Identifying key transcription factors for pharmacogenetic studies of antipsychotics induced extrapyramidal symptoms

Introduction We explore the transcription factors involved in the molecular mechanism of antipsychotic (AP)-induced acute extrapyramidalsymptoms (EPS) in order to identify new candidate genes for pharmacogenetic studies. Methods Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks previously created from three pharmacogenomic models (in vitro, animal, and peripheral blood inhumans) were used to, by means of several bioinformatic tools; identify key transcription factors (TFs) that regulate each network. Once the TFs wereidentified, SNPs disrupting the binding sites (TFBS) of these TFs in the genes of each network were selected for genotyping. Finally, SNP-basedassociations with EPS were analyzed in a sample of 356 psychiatric patients receiving AP. Results Our analysis identified 33 TFs expressed in the striatum, and 125 SNPs disrupting TFBS in 50 genes of our initial networks. Two SNPs (rs938112,rs2987902) in two genes (LSMAP and ABL1) were significantly associated with AP induced EPS (p < 0.001). These SNPs disrupt TFBS regulated byPOU2F1. Conclusion Our results highlight the possible role of the disruption of TFBS by SNPs in the pharmacological response to AP.