Association of PITX3 polymorphism with Parkinson's disease in Chinese patients / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between polymorphism in the PITX3 gene and hereditary susceptibility of Parkinson's disease (PD). MethodsThree PITX3 single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs ),including rs2281983,rs4919621 and rs3758549 were examined in 509 late-onset PD patients ( LOPD ),290 early-onset PD(EOPD) and 494 healthy controls.Genotyping was carried out in all subjects using a ligase detection reaction( LDR).ResultsAllele and genotype frequencies did not differ between the 799 PD patients and 494 controls ( P values of genotype were 0.494,0.343,0.951 ; P values of allele were 0.369,0.297,0.823 ),between 509 LOPD patients and 494 controls ( P values of genotype were 0.522,0.350,0.630 ; P values of allele were 0.413,0.328,0.571 ),between 290 EOPD patients and 494 controls ( P values of genotype were 0.499,0.492,0.552; P values of allele were 0.321,0.301,0.931 ),and between 509 LOPD and 290 EOPD patients ( P values of genotype were 0.577,0.710,0.127 ; P values of allele were 0.346,0.472,0.077 ) for all three SNPs (rs2281983,rs4919621 and rs3758549).There were no association petween the three PITX3 SNPs and PD.ConclusionThree PITX3 SNPs do not contribute to the risk of developing PD in Chinese population.

Expression of clock genes Bmall and Bmal2 in total leukocytes in health and Parkinson's disease / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To study the expression of clock genes in Parkinson's disease(PD) and also the molecular clock machinery of PD.Methods Seventeen PD patients(nine men,eight women)and sixteen agematched controls(nine men,seven women) were investigated in this study.Bload samples were collected over a 12h span at 21:00,00:00,06:00 and 09:00.Using a real-time PCR assay,the peripheral molecular clock was examined by measuring Bmall and Bmal2 expression in total leukocytes during the dark span(from 21:00 to 09:00)in PD patients and age-matched healthy controls.Results At PD,the relative abundance of Bmall was significantly lower at 21:00,00:00 and 06:00(21:00:(22.17±4.09)vs(51.14±8.31),P=0.003,00:00:(30.30±5.45)vs(100.00±24.71),P=0.008,06:00:(19.02±3.33)vs(65.61±14.11),P=0.002).The relative Bmal2 levels in PD patients were significantly less abundant than controls at 21:00 and 00:00(21:00:(48.09±7.40)vs(84.96±9.34),P=0.005;00:00:((65.85±7.88)vs(100.00±11.78),P=0.025).Conclusion These results suggest that a peripheral molecular clock is altered in PD patients.In addition,the relative abundance of Bmall and Bmal2 was significantly lower in PD patients versus control subjects,which can provide a molecular basis to help monitor disease progression and response to investigational drugs.