[Association between dopamine transporter gene polymorphism and Parkinson's disease].
OBJECTIVE
To detect the association between dopamine transporter gene polymorphism and Parkinson's disease (PD).


METHODS
The authors analyzed the difference in the distribution of the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR ) polymorphism within the 3' untranslated region of the DAT gene between 85 normal controls and 128 PD patients that were further divided into the senile subgroup (aged >50 years at onset of PD ) and the early-onset subgroup (aged </=50 years).


RESULTS
There were significant differences in genotypic and allelic distribution between the control group and the PD group. The senile PD was strongly associated with the 7-copy allele and weakly with the 10-copy allele, and the early onset PD was mainly associated with the 9-copy allele.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings not only support an association between DAT gene and PD but also suggest the relationship of the 3'VNTR polymorphism of DAT gene with the age at the onset of PD.
Zhang
L
L
Institute of Neuroscience, Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing, 100054 P. R. China. pbchan@hotmail.com
Shao
M
M
Xu
Q
Q
Dong
X
X
Yang
J
J
Li
Y
Y
Chen
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human; D004247:DNA