Validating MARK2 Gene Polymorphism as a Predictor of Response to Lithium Treatment in Bipolar Patients

Authors
Sara Sadat Aghabozorg Afjeh 1
Jamal Shams 2
Safar Hamednia 3
Behzad Boshehri 4
Asmaolhosna Amini 5
Amin Omrani 6
Mir Davood Omrani 7
1 Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Behavioral Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Psychiatry, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
4 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
5 Sara Medical Genetics Laboratory, Tehran, Iran;
6 Faculty of Medicine of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
7 Urogenital Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
10.52547/ibj.26.2.110
Abstract
Background: Lithium is a therapeutic option for the treatment of the acute phase of the bipolar disorder and long-term management of this disorder. However, it is estimated that 10 to 60% of patients do not properly response to this medication.

Methods: To investigate the role of MARK2 gene in response to lithium, we genotyped the MARK2 rs10792421 polymorphism in Iranian bipolar patients using amplification Refractory Mutation System-PCR.

Results: Results of this study showed a significant association of this polymorphism with response to lithium. The A allele was more frequent in the responder than the non-responder group and also in the semi- responder group compared to the non-responder group in the codominant model of analysis. AA and AG genotypes were more frequent in both the responder and semi-responder groups compared to the non-responder group in dominant model of analysis.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of the current study, the rs10792421 variant of MARK2 gene could be considered as a potential biomarker for predicting the treatment outcome of bipolar disorder type 1 in Iranian population.
Keywords
Bipolar
Biomarkers
Lithium
genotyping