Association study of three polymorphisms of TGF-beta1 gene with Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence that inflammatory processes may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease through production of cytokines and free radicals that damage neurones. A recent study has shown that transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) signalling in astrocytes promotes Abeta production and could play a critical role in the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the impact of the -800 and -509 TGF-beta1 promoter polymorphisms and the +25 polymorphism on the risk of occurrence of Alzheimer's disease in a large population of sporadic cases and controls, and on the amyloid beta (Abeta) load in the brains of Alzheimer patients.


METHODS
The TGF-beta1 genotypes of the three polymorphisms were determined in 678 sporadic Alzheimer's disease patients and 667 controls. They were also characterised, along with Abeta load, in the brains of 81 necropsy confirmed Alzheimer patients.


RESULTS
No significant variations in the distribution of the genotypes and haplotypes were observed between Alzheimer patients and controls, or in the amount of Abeta deposition.


CONCLUSIONS
These results do not suggest an influence of genetic variability at the TGF-beta1 gene locus on the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease.
Araria-Goumidi
L
L
INSERM 508, Institut Pasteur de Lille, rue du Professeur Calmette, Lille, France.
Lambert
J C
JC
Mann
D M A
DM
Lendon
C
C
Frigard
B
B
Iwatsubo
T
T
Cottel
D
D
Amouyel
P
P
Chartier-Harlin
M C
MC
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1