Taar6, a member of the trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) family, is a G protein-coupled receptor. Most TAARs, including Taar6, are expressed in olfactory epithelium neurons and detect various ethological signals. In vertebrates, TAARs are involved in sensing cues like predators, spoiled food, migratory signals, and pheromones [1]. Additionally, Taar6 has been associated with mental disorder-related brain areas, as its mRNA is ubiquitously but weakly expressed in the human and mouse brain, especially in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens [2].

Genetic variations of Taar6 have been linked to multiple conditions. In depressive patients, certain Taar6 genetic variations (such as rs6903874, rs6937506) were associated with antidepressant treatment response and suicidal behavior [3]. In schizophrenic patients, Taar6 variations were related to clinical presentation and outcome, and some genotypes were associated with response to aripiprazole [5,7]. Also, in asthmatic patients, the rs7772821 polymorphism of Taar6 was correlated with airway responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroids [4]. Computational studies have identified potential drugs like aripiprazole targeting Taar6 for schizophrenia treatment [6].

In conclusion, Taar6 is crucial in detecting ethological signals and is associated with mental disorders like depression and schizophrenia, as well as asthma. Studies on Taar6 genetic variations and their associations with drug responses in different diseases provide valuable insights into disease pathogenesis and potential personalized treatment strategies. The research on Taar6 helps in understanding the role of trace amine-associated receptors in various biological and disease-related processes.

References:

1. Gainetdinov, Raul R, Hoener, Marius C, Berry, Mark D. . Trace Amines and Their Receptors. In Pharmacological reviews, 70, 549-620. doi:10.1124/pr.117.015305. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29941461/

2. Vaganova, Anastasia N, Katolikova, Nataliia V, Murtazina, Ramilya Z, Kuvarzin, Savelii R, Gainetdinov, Raul R. 2022. Public Transcriptomic Data Meta-Analysis Demonstrates TAAR6 Expression in the Mental Disorder-Related Brain Areas in Human and Mouse Brain. In Biomolecules, 12, . doi:10.3390/biom12091259. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36139098/

3. Pae, Chi-Un, Drago, Antonio, Kim, Jung-Jin, De Ronchi, Diana, Serretti, Alessandro. 2010. TAAR6 variations possibly associated with antidepressant response and suicidal behavior. In Psychiatry research, 180, 20-4. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2009.08.007. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20493543/

4. Chang, Hun Soo, Heo, Jeong-Seok, Shin, Seung-Woo, Shin, Hyung Doo, Park, Choon-Sik. . Association between TAAR6 polymorphisms and airway responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroids in asthmatic patients. In Pharmacogenetics and genomics, 25, 334-42. doi:10.1097/FPC.0000000000000141. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25919112/

5. Pae, Chi-Un, Drago, Antonio, Kim, Jung-Jin, Paik, In-Ho, Serretti, Alessandro. 2008. TAAR6 variation effect on clinic presentation and outcome in a sample of schizophrenic in-patients: an open label study. In European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 23, 390-5. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2008.04.004. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18583103/

6. Tahir, Rana Adnan, Wu, Hao, Javed, Naima, Ashraf, Ghulam Md, Sehgal, Sheikh Arslan. 2018. Pharmacoinformatics and molecular docking reveal potential drug candidates against Schizophrenia to target TAAR6. In Journal of cellular physiology, 234, 13263-13276. doi:10.1002/jcp.27999. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30569503/

7. Serretti, Alessandro, Pae, Chi-Un, Chiesa, Alberto, Mandelli, Laura, De Ronchi, Diana. 2009. Influence of TAAR6 polymorphisms on response to aripiprazole. In Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 33, 822-6. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2009.03.032. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19345712/