Seripa D, Matera MG, Franceschi M, Bizzarro A, Paris F, Cascavilla L, Rinaldi M, Panza F, Solfrizzi V, Daniele A, Masullo C, Dallapiccola B, Pilotto A. Association analysis of GRIN2B, encoding N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit, and Alzheimer's disease.
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2008;
25:287-92. [PMID:
18303265 DOI:
10.1159/000118634]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/26/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems play a crucial role in memory formation and information processing. Alterations in this system contribute to the manifestation of symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Glutamate transmits signals via the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs).
AIMS
The potential involvement of polymorphisms in the GRIN2B gene, encoding subunit 2B of the NMDA receptor, in the risk for AD was evaluated.
METHODS
We investigated the 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs1019385, rs1806201 and rs890, i.e. the G(-200)-->T transversion in the 5'UTR, the A(2664)-->G transition in exon 13 and the G(5072)-->T transition in the 3'UTR of the GRIN2B gene, in 222 Caucasian AD patients and 170 healthy Caucasian age-matched controls.
RESULTS
No differences were found in the overall distribution of the single-nucleotide polymorphism genotypes between AD patients and healthy controls, even when the analysis was adjusted for sex, age and APOE. As expected from genotype frequencies, no differences were found in the distribution of the estimated allele and haplotype frequencies between AD patients and healthy controls.
CONCLUSION
In this study no significant association between polymorphisms in the GRIN2B gene and AD was observed. Further investigations of polymorphisms in the gene encoding the NMDA receptor 2B subunit in AD patients with different genetic setting are needed to clarify their role in the pathogenesis of AD.
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