Serotonin transporter gene polymorphic element 5-HTTLPR increases the risk of sporadic Parkinson's disease in Italy

Eur Neurol. 2009;62(2):120-3. doi: 10.1159/000222784. Epub 2009 Jun 12.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder causing muscular rigidity, resting tremor and bradykinesia. We conducted an association study assessing how PD risk in Italy was influenced by the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) polymorphic region 5-HTTLPR, consisting of an insertion/deletion (long allele-L/short allele-S) of 43 bp in the SLC6A4 promoter region. The SLC6A4 promoter single nucleotide polymorphism rs25531(A-->G) was evaluated too. We collected 837 independent subjects (393 PD, 444 controls). An association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and risk of PD (S/S genotype OR [95% CI]: 1.7[1.2-2.5], p = 0.002) was found. The rs25531 and the haplotype 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 did not associate with risk of PD. Our data indicate that the 5-HTTLPR polymorphic element within the SLC6A4 promoter may govern the genetic risk of PD in Italians.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Odds Ratio
  • Parkinson Disease / epidemiology*
  • Parkinson Disease / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Risk Factors
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • SLC6A4 protein, human
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins