The coding-synonymous polymorphism rs1045280 (Ser280Ser) in β-arrestin 2 (ARRB2) gene is associated with tardive dyskinesia in Chinese patients with schizophrenia

Background: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a severe and potentially irreversible adverse effect of long‐term antipsychotic treatment. Typical antipsychotics are commonly binding to the dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2), but the occurrence of antipsychotic‐induced TD is rather delayed; therefore, the development of TD may be associated with mediators or signalling complexes behind DRD2, such as β‐arrestin 2 (ARRB2), an important mediator between DRD2 and serine–threonine protein kinase (AKT) signal cascade. Methods: A case–control study to evaluate the association between rs1045280 (Ser280Ser) and antipsychotic‐induced TD was performed amongst 381 patients (TD/non‐TD = 228/153). Results: There was a significant difference in the genotype distribution between TD and non‐TD groups (P = 0.025); furthermore, the allelic analysis indicated that patients with T allele had increased risk of TD occurrence (ORT = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.14–2.19, P = 0.007). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting a positive association between the SNP rs1045280 and TD in schizophrenic patients.