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Oczkowska A, Kozubski W, Lianeri M, Dorszewska J. Mutations in PRKN and SNCA Genes Important for the Progress of Parkinson's Disease. Curr Genomics 2014; 14:502-17. [PMID: 24532983 PMCID: PMC3924246 DOI: 10.2174/1389202914666131210205839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2013] [Revised: 11/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although Parkinson’s disease (PD) was first described almost 200 years ago, it remains an incurable disease
with a cause that is not fully understood. Nowadays it is known that disturbances in the structure of pathological proteins
in PD can be caused by more than environmental and genetic factors. Despite numerous debates and controversies in the
literature about the role of mutations in the SNCA and PRKN genes in the pathogenesis of PD, it is evident that these
genes play a key role in maintaining dopamine (DA) neuronal homeostasis and that the dysfunction of this homeostasis is
relevant to both familial (FPD) and sporadic (SPD) PD with different onset. In recent years, the importance of alphasynuclein
(ASN) in the process of neurodegeneration and neuroprotective function of the Parkin is becoming better understood.
Moreover, there have been an increasing number of recent reports indicating the importance of the interaction between
these proteins and their encoding genes. Among others interactions, it is suggested that even heterozygous substitution
in the PRKN gene in the presence of the variants +2/+2 or +2/+3 of NACP-Rep1 in the SNCA promoter, may increase
the risk of PD manifestation, which is probably due to ineffective elimination of over-expressed ASN by the mutated
Parkin protein. Finally, it seems that genetic testing may be an important part of diagnostics in patients with PD and may
improve the prognostic process in the course of PD. However, only full knowledge of the mechanism of the interaction
between the genes associated with the pathogenesis of PD is likely to help explain the currently unknown pathways of selective
damage to dopaminergic neurons in the course of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Oczkowska
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Wojciech Kozubski
- Chair and Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Margarita Lianeri
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jolanta Dorszewska
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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Cho SH, Lee JH. Comparison of the Amplitudes of the H-reflex of Post-stroke Hemiplegia Patients and Normal Adults during Walking. J Phys Ther Sci 2013; 25:729-32. [PMID: 24259840 PMCID: PMC3805002 DOI: 10.1589/jpts.25.729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2013] [Accepted: 02/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare H-reflex characteristics during gait
of hemiplegic stroke patients. [Subjects] Twenty-five patients and age-matched twenty-five
volunteers in good health were studied. All the subjects could walk independently.
[Methods] An MP150 (BIOPAC Systems, Inc., Goleta, CA, USA) was used to record the
electromyography (EMG) data collected with Ag-Ag/Cl measurement electrodes (BIOPAC,
diameter of 2 cm). [Results] The comparison showed significant differences of
Hmax/Mmax ratio (%) in all gait cycles between the stroke group
and the control group. [Conclusion] In conclusion, this study furnished basic reference
data for gait strategies and functional training programs for hemiplegic stroke
patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Hyoun Cho
- Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Daegu University
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Gaweda-Walerych K, Safranow K, Jasinska-Myga B, Bialecka M, Klodowska-Duda G, Rudzinska M, Czyzewski K, Cobb SA, Slawek J, Styczynska M, Opala G, Drozdzik M, Nishioka K, Farrer MJ, Ross OA, Wszolek ZK, Barcikowska M, Zekanowski C. PARK2 variability in Polish Parkinson's disease patients--interaction with mitochondrial haplogroups. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2012; 18:520-4. [PMID: 22361577 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2012.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2011] [Revised: 12/02/2011] [Accepted: 01/28/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES A new pathomechanism of Parkinson's disease (PD) involving regulation of mitochondrial functions was recently proposed. Parkin complexed with mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) binds mtDNA and promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, which is abolished by PARK2 gene mutations. We have previously shown that mitochondrial haplogroups/clusters and TFAM common variation influenced PD risk. We investigate the role of PARK2 polymorphisms on PD risk and their interactions with mitochondrial haplogroups/clusters as well as with TFAM variability. METHODS 104 early-onset PD patients (EOPD, age at onset ≤ 50 years) were screened for PARK2 coding sequence changes including gene dosage alterations. Three selected PARK2 polymorphisms (S167N, V380L, D394N) were genotyped in 326 PD patients and 315 controls using TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. RESULTS PARK2 screen revealed two heterozygous changes in two EOPD patients: exon 2 deletion and one novel synonymous variation (c.999C > A, P333P). In association study no differences in genotype/allele frequencies of S167N, V380L, D394N were found between analyzed groups. Stratification by mitochondrial clusters revealed higher frequency of V380L G/G genotype and allele G in PD patients, within HV cluster (p = 0.040; p = 0.022, respectively). Moreover, interaction between genotypes G/G V380L of PARK2 and G/G rs2306604 of TFAM, within HV cluster was significant (OR 2.05; CI 1.04-4.04; p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that co-occurrence of G/G V380L PARK2 and G/G rs2306604 TFAM on the prooxidative HV cluster background can contribute to PD risk. We confirm low PARK2 mutation frequency in Polish EOPD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Gaweda-Walerych
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Medical Research Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
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Wang C, Ma H, Feng X, Xie S, Chan P. Parkin dosage mutations in patients with early-onset sporadic and familial Parkinson's disease in Chinese: An independent pathogenic role. Brain Res 2010; 1358:30-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.08.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2010] [Revised: 08/08/2010] [Accepted: 08/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Nuytemans K, Theuns J, Cruts M, Van Broeckhoven C. Genetic etiology of Parkinson disease associated with mutations in the SNCA, PARK2, PINK1, PARK7, and LRRK2 genes: a mutation update. Hum Mutat 2010; 31:763-80. [PMID: 20506312 PMCID: PMC3056147 DOI: 10.1002/humu.21277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 353] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2010] [Revised: 04/21/2010] [Accepted: 04/21/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To date, molecular genetic analyses have identified over 500 distinct DNA variants in five disease genes associated with familial Parkinson disease; alpha-synuclein (SNCA), parkin (PARK2), PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), DJ-1 (PARK7), and Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2). These genetic variants include approximately 82% simple mutations and approximately 18% copy number variations. Some mutation subtypes are likely underestimated because only few studies reported extensive mutation analyses of all five genes, by both exonic sequencing and dosage analyses. Here we present an update of all mutations published to date in the literature, systematically organized in a novel mutation database (http://www.molgen.ua.ac.be/PDmutDB). In addition, we address the biological relevance of putative pathogenic mutations. This review emphasizes the need for comprehensive genetic screening of Parkinson patients followed by an insightful study of the functional relevance of observed genetic variants. Moreover, while capturing existing data from the literature it became apparent that several of the five Parkinson genes were also contributing to the genetic etiology of other Lewy Body Diseases and Parkinson-plus syndromes, indicating that mutation screening is recommendable in these patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Nuytemans
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Department of Molecular GeneticsVIB, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born-Bunge, University of AntwerpAntwerpen, Belgium
| | - Jessie Theuns
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Department of Molecular GeneticsVIB, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born-Bunge, University of AntwerpAntwerpen, Belgium
| | - Marc Cruts
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Department of Molecular GeneticsVIB, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born-Bunge, University of AntwerpAntwerpen, Belgium
| | - Christine Van Broeckhoven
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Department of Molecular GeneticsVIB, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born-Bunge, University of AntwerpAntwerpen, Belgium
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Screening PARK genes for mutations in early-onset Parkinson's disease patients from Queensland, Australia. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2009; 15:105-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2007.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2007] [Revised: 11/08/2007] [Accepted: 11/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Chaudhary S, Behari M, Dihana M, Swaminath PV, Govindappa ST, Jayaram S, Goyal V, Maitra A, Muthane UB, Juyal RC, Thelma BK. Parkin mutations in familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease among Indians. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2006; 12:239-45. [PMID: 16500134 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2005.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2005] [Revised: 12/19/2005] [Accepted: 12/20/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We observed a mutation frequency of 8.5% in Parkin gene among Indian PD patients based on sequencing and gene dosage analysis of its exons. We identified nine point mutations of which seven are novel and hitherto unreported. These mutations accounted for 14.3% familial PD, 6.9% young onset and 5.9% late onset sporadic PD. Of the 20 PD patients with mutations only two had homozygous mutations and one was a compound heterozygote. Homozygous exonic deletions were absent but heterozygous exon rearrangements were observed in 9.2% of patients (19% familial PD and 4.5% young onset sporadic PD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Chaudhary
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India
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Klein C, Djarmati A, Hedrich K, Schäfer N, Scaglione C, Marchese R, Kock N, Schüle B, Hiller A, Lohnau T, Winkler S, Wiegers K, Hering R, Bauer P, Riess O, Abbruzzese G, Martinelli P, Pramstaller PP. PINK1, Parkin, and DJ-1 mutations in Italian patients with early-onset parkinsonism. Eur J Hum Genet 2005; 13:1086-93. [PMID: 15970950 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Recessively inherited early-onset parkinsonism (EOP) has been associated with mutations in the Parkin, DJ-1, and PINK1 genes. We studied the prevalence of mutations in all three genes in 65 Italian patients (mean age of onset: 43.2+/-5.4 years, 62 sporadic, three familial), selected by age at onset equal or younger than 51 years. Clinical features were compatible with idiopathic Parkinson's disease in all cases. To detect small sequence alterations in Parkin, DJ-1, and PINK1, we performed a conventional mutational analysis (SSCP/dHPLC/sequencing) of all coding exons of these genes. To test for the presence of exon rearrangements in PINK1, we established a new quantitative duplex PCR assay. Gene dosage alterations in Parkin and DJ-1 were excluded using previously reported protocols. Five patients (8%; one woman/four men; mean age at onset: 38.2+/-9.7 (range 25-49) years) carried mutations in one of the genes studied: three cases had novel PINK1 mutations, one of which occurred twice (homozygous c.1602_1603insCAA; heterozygous c.1602_1603insCAA; heterozygous c.836G>A), and two patients had known Parkin mutations (heterozygous c.734A>T and c.924C>T; heterozygous c.924C>T). Family history was negative for all mutation carriers, but one with a history of tremor. Additionally, we detected one novel polymorphism (c.344A>T) and four novel PINK1 changes of unknown pathogenic significance (-21G/A; IVS1+97A/G; IVS3+38_40delTTT; c.852C>T), but no exon rearrangements. No mutations were found in the DJ-1 gene. The number of mutation carriers in both the Parkin and the PINK1 gene in our cohort is low but comparable, suggesting that PINK1 has to be considered in EOP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Klein
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
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Kanthasamy AG, Kitazawa M, Kanthasamy A, Anantharam V. Dieldrin-induced neurotoxicity: relevance to Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. Neurotoxicology 2005; 26:701-19. [PMID: 16112328 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2004.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2004] [Accepted: 07/25/2004] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasingly recognized as a neurodegenerative disorder strongly associated with environmental chemical exposures. Recent epidemiological data demonstrate that environmental risk factors may play a dominant role as compared to genetic factors in the etiopathogenesis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Identification of key genetic defects such as alpha-synuclein and parkin mutations in PD also underscores the important role of genetic factors in the disease. Thus, understanding the interplay between genes and environment in PD may be critical to unlocking the mysteries of this 200-year-old neurodegenerative disease. Pesticides and metals are the most common classes of environmental chemicals that promote dopaminergic degeneration. The organochlorine pesticide dieldrin has been found in human PD postmortem brain tissues, suggesting that this pesticide has potential to promote nigral cell death. Though dieldrin has been banned, humans continue to be exposed to the pesticide through contaminated dairy products and meats due to the persistent accumulation of the pesticide in the environment. This review summarizes various neurotoxic studies conducted in both cell culture and animals models following dieldrin exposure and discusses their relevance to key pathological mechanisms associated with nigral dopaminergic degeneration including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anumantha G Kanthasamy
- Parkinson's Disorder Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1250, USA.
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Hedrich K, Eskelson C, Wilmot B, Marder K, Harris J, Garrels J, Meija-Santana H, Vieregge P, Jacobs H, Bressman SB, Lang AE, Kann M, Abbruzzese G, Martinelli P, Schwinger E, Ozelius LJ, Pramstaller PP, Klein C, Kramer P. Distribution, type, and origin of Parkin mutations: review and case studies. Mov Disord 2005; 19:1146-57. [PMID: 15390068 DOI: 10.1002/mds.20234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) has been associated with different mutations in the Parkin gene (PARK2). To study distribution and type of Parkin mutations, we carried out a comprehensive literature review that demonstrated two prominent types of mutations among 379 unrelated mutation carriers: exon rearrangements involving exon 3, 4, or both, and alterations in exons 2 and 7, suggesting mutational hot spots or founders. To elucidate the origin of 14 recurrent Parkin mutations in our samples, we carried out a detailed haplotype analysis at the PARK2 locus. Thirty-eight mutation-positive individuals, available family members, and 62 mutation-negative individuals were genotyped. We determined allele frequencies and linkage disequilibrium (LD) to evaluate the significance of shared haplotypes. We observed no LD between markers at PARK2. Our data support a common founder for the most frequent Parkin point mutation (924C>T; exon 7) and indicate a mutational hot spot as cause of a common small deletion (255/256delA; exon 2). Furthermore, the most frequent Parkin exon deletion (Ex4del) arose independently in 2 of our subjects. However, it also occurred as the result of a founder mutation in 2 cases that shared identical deletion break points. This study provides evidence for both mutational hot spots and founder mutations as a source of recurrent mutations in Parkin, regardless of the mutation type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Hedrich
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Poorkaj P, Nutt JG, James D, Gancher S, Bird TD, Steinbart E, Schellenberg GD, Payami H. parkin mutation analysis in clinic patients with early-onset Parkinson [corrected] disease. Am J Med Genet A 2005; 129A:44-50. [PMID: 15266615 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.30157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
parkin Mutations are the most common identified cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been suggested that patients with young-onset PD be screened for parkin mutations as a part of their clinical work-up. The aim of this study was to assess parkin mutation frequency in a clinical setting, correlate genotype with phenotype, and evaluate the current justification for clinical parkin testing. Patients were selected from a movement disorder clinic based on diagnosis of PD and onset age </=40 years. parkin was genotyped by sequence and dosage analysis for all 12 exons. Key relatives and controls were screened for identified mutations. Mutations were found in 7/39 patients. Two patients were compound heterozygous; five were heterozygous. Mutations included deletions in exons 2, 3, and 8, duplications in exons 2-4, and 9, and P437L substitution. Seventy-eight percent of mutations were deletions/multiplications. A novel substitution (R402W) was found in one patient and in one control. None of the point mutations found in patients were detected in 96 controls. parkin phenotypes were consistent with idiopathic PD. In conclusion, parkin mutations are common in the clinic setting: 10% of PD patients had early-onset and 18% of them had parkin mutations. However, if parkin is recessive, only 5% of early-onset cases who had compound mutations could be attributed to this locus. Mutation frequency was 0.12 (95% CI 0.04-0.19). parkin cases can present as typical idiopathic PD, distinguishable only by molecular testing. Seventy percent of parkin cases were heterozygous. It is unclear whether heterozygous mutations are pathogenic. parkin-based diagnosis and counseling require a better understanding of the mode of inheritance, penetrance, and carrier frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Poorkaj
- Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division, Seattle, WA, USA
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Takao M, Ghetti B, Yoshida H, Piccardo P, Narain Y, Murrell JR, Vidal R, Glazier BS, Jakes R, Tsutsui M, Spillantini MG, Crowther RA, Goedert M, Koto A. Early-onset dementia with Lewy bodies. Brain Pathol 2004; 14:137-47. [PMID: 15193026 PMCID: PMC8095855 DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2004.tb00046.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical and neuropathological characteristics of an atypical form of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are described. The proband experienced difficulties in her school performance at 13 years of age. Neurological examination revealed cognitive dysfunction, dysarthria, parkinsonism and myoclonus. By age 14 years, the symptoms had worsened markedly and the proband died at age 15 years. On neuropathological examination, the brain was severely atrophic. Numerous intracytoplasmic and intraneuritic Lewy bodies, as well as Lewy neurites, were present throughout the cerebral cortex and subcortical nuclel; vacuolar changes were seen in the upper layers of the neocortex and severe neuronal loss and gliosis were evident in the cerebral cortex and substantia nigra. Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites were strongly immunoreactive for alpha-synuclein and ubiquitin. Lewy bodies were composed of filamentous and granular material and isolated filaments were decorated by alpha-synuclein antibodies. Immunohistochemistry for tau or beta-amyloid yielded negative results. The etiology of this atypical form of DLB is unknown, since there was no family history and since sequencing of the exonic regions of alpha-Synuclein, beta-Synuclein, Synphilin-1, Parkin, Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 and Neurofilament-M failed to reveal a pathogenic mutation. This study provides further evidence of the clinical and pathological heterogeneity of DLB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Takao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind
- Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind
| | | | - Pedro Piccardo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind
| | - Yolanda Narain
- Centre for Brain Repair and Department of Neurology, Cambridge University, United Kingdom
| | - Jill R. Murrell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind
| | - Bradley S. Glazier
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind
| | - Ross Jakes
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Miho Tsutsui
- Centre for Brain Repair and Department of Neurology, Cambridge University, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Michel Goedert
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Atsuo Koto
- Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
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West AB, Maidment NT. Genetics of parkin-linked disease. Hum Genet 2004; 114:327-36. [PMID: 14727181 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-003-1074-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2003] [Accepted: 12/07/2003] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Research into Parkinson's disease (PD), once considered the archetypical non-genetic neurodegenerative disorder, has been revolutionized by the identification of a number of genes, mutations of which underlie various familial forms of the disease. Whereas such mutations appear to exist in a relatively small number of individuals from a few families, the study of the function of these genes promises to reveal the fundamental disease pathogenesis, not only of familial forms of the disease, but also of the much more common sporadic PD. The observation that mutations in the second identified PD locus (parkin) are common in juvenile- and early-onset PD and increasing evidence supporting a direct role for parkin in late-onset disease make this gene a particularly compelling candidate for intensified investigation. The determination of the frequency and effect of parkin mutations in various subsets of PD will be crucial for understanding the way in which parkin is related to neurodegenerative mechanisms, and whether these subsets might be effectively identified and treated. In addition, many aspects of parkin-linked disease, originally thought to be well defined, have now been obscured both by genetic studies that preclude a simple model of disease transmission and by clinical and pathological studies that demonstrate broad variability in cases with parkin mutations. Future studies that address the issues in question should have a far-reaching impact in downstream biochemical studies and our understanding of parkin's role in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B West
- Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, University of California at Los Angeles, 90024, USA.
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