Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most common and severe psychotic disorders. Its early onset and chronic course, along with its uncertain etiology and high heritability make it a disorder of growing research interest. In this regard, genetic studies have been conducted to discover the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this disorder and its treatments. Current research focused on possible genetic changes caused by treatment with atypical antipsychotics have reported changes in expression of 17 genes, (known as CRGAs here on: Clinical Response Gene to Antipsychotic); among these genes ADAMTS2, CD177, CNTNAP3, ENTPD2, RFX2, and UNC45B were overexpressed in patients with schizophrenia although their expression reverted to control values after 3 months of treatment. To strengthen this genetic modulation theory, our laboratory has been considered essential to study the dynamics transcription of CRGAs in vitro. Materials & Methods: In this work, we performed the analysis of genetic expression in vitro over SK-N-SH and Jurkat cells thought the following step-protocols: RT-PCR and qPCR. Relative gene expression was used for data analysis using method 2−ΔΔCT . Results: The gene modulation with antipsychotic drugs was measured at different times based on the control-vehicle condition. Overall, our results showed that antipsychotic treatments seem modulate gene transcription. With the SK-N-SH cells, a genetic inhibition was observed in the dynamics of transcription all the studied genes. A genetic overexpression was observed in the dynamics of transcription of the ADAMTS2, CD177, RFX2, and UNC45B genes in Jurkat cells although statistical significance was not observed, presumably because of the lack of replication. Conclusion: There is a dynamic transcription in CRGAs after treatment with antipsychotic in both, Jurkat and SK-NH-SH cells. These results are similar than the previous found in blood based transcription in first episode of psychosis patients.
