CAG repeat length in androgen receptor gene is not associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Eur J Neurol 2012;
19:1373-5. [PMID:
22233359 DOI:
10.1111/j.1468-1331.2011.03646.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological and clinical studies show higher prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in males than in females and more severe lesions in androgen receptor (AR)-expressing tissues. The AR gene contains a polymorphic CAG trinucleotide repeat, whose expansion over a certain threshold is toxic to motor neurons, causing spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA).
PURPOSE AND METHODS
We tested the hypothesis that the AR CAG repeat linked to SBMA is a risk factor for ALS. We analyzed AR CAG expansions in 336 patients with ALS and 100 controls.
RESULTS
We found a negative association of AR CAG expansions with ALS susceptibility, clinical presentation, and survival.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings do not support a role of the AR CAG repeat length in ALS.
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