Large-scale next generation sequencing based analysis of SLCO1B1 pharmacogenetics variants in the Saudi population

SLCO1B1 plays an important role in mediating hepatic clearance of many different drugs including statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics. Several variants in SLCO1B1 have been shown to have a clinically significant impact, in relation to efficacy of these medications. This study provides a comprehensive overview of SLCO1B1 variation in Saudi individuals, one of the largest Arab populations in the Middle East.

The dataset of 11,889 (9,961 exomes and 1,928 pharmacogenetic gene panel) Saudi nationals, was used to determine the presence and frequencies of SLCO1B1 variants, as described by the Clinical Pharmacogenetic Implementation Consortium (CPIC).

We identified 141 previously described SNPs, of which rs2306283 (50%) and rs4149056 (28%), were the most common. In addition, we observed six alleles [*15 (24.7%) followed by *20 (8.04%), *14 (5.86%), *5 (3.84%), *31 (0.21%) and *9 (0.03%)] predicted to be clinically actionable. Allele diplotype to phenotype conversion revealed 41 OATP1B1 diplotypes. We estimated the burden of rare, and novel predicted deleterious variants, resulting from 17 such alterations.

The data we present, from one of the largest Arab cohorts studied to date, provides the most comprehensive overview of SLCO1B1 variants, and the subsequent OATP1B1 activity of this ethnic group, which thus far remains relatively underrepresented in available international genomic databases. We believe that the presented data provides a basis for further clinical investigations and the application of personalized statin drug therapy guidance in Arabs.