Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Immunoglobulin Gene Sequence Analysis In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: From Patient Material To Sequence Interpretation
Published on: November 26, 2018
Sequence Analysis of Drug Target Genes with Suicidal Behavior in Bipolar Disorder Patients
Clement C Zai1,2,3,4, Arun K Tiwari1,2, Gwyneth C Zai1,2
1Neurogenetics Section, Molecular Brain Science, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Background:
A number of genes have been implicated in recent genome-wide association studies of suicide attempt in bipolar disorder. More focused investigation of genes coding for protein targets of existing drugs may lead to drug repurposing for the treatment and/or prevention of suicide.
Methods:
We analyzed 2,457 DNA variants across 197 genes of interest to GlaxoSmithKline across the pipeline in our sample of European patients suffering from bipolar disorder (N = 219). We analyzed these variants for a possible association with the suicide severity score (ranging from suicidal ideation/plan to serious suicide attempt) from the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. We conducted tests of individual variants and gene-based tests.
Results:
We found a number of DNA variants in the transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 gene (TGFBR1) to be suggestively associated with suicide severity scores (p < 0.005). The gene-based tests also pointed to TGFBR1 to be associated with suicide severity (p = 0.0001). However, these findings were not replicated in an independent bipolar disorder sample.
Conclusions:
We report no significant association between DNA sequences of drug target genes and suicidal behavior. Additional larger sequencing studies could further interrogate associations between variants in drug target genes and suicidal behavior.
Related Concept Videos
Bipolar Disorder
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl) block histamines from binding. Histamines are chemicals released during an allergic reaction in the body. As a...

