PINK1 mutations are associated with sporadic early-onset parkinsonism.
We have recently reported homozygous mutations in the PINK1 gene in three consanguineous families with early-onset parkinsonism (EOP) linked to the PARK6 locus. To further evaluate the pathogenic role of PINK1 in EOP and to draw genotype-phenotype correlates, we performed PINK1 mutation analysis in a cohort of Italian EOP patients, mostly sporadic, with onset younger than 50 years of age. Seven of 100 patients carried missense mutations in PINK1. Two patients had two PINK1 mutations, whereas in five patients only one mutation was identified. Age at onset was in the fourth-fifth decade (range, 37-47 years). The clinical picture was characterized by a typical parkinsonian phenotype with asymmetric onset and rare occurrence of atypical features. Slow progression and excellent response to levodopa were observed in all subject. Two of 200 healthy control individuals also carried one heterozygous missense mutation. The identification of a higher number of patients (5%) than controls (1%) carrying a single heterozygous mutation, along with previous positron emission tomography studies demonstrating a preclinical nigrostriatal dysfunction in PARK6 carriers, supports the hypothesis that haploinsufficiency of PINK1, as well as of other EOP genes, may represent a susceptibility factor toward parkinsonism. However, the pathogenetic significance of heterozygous PINK1 mutations still remains to be clarified.
Valente
Enza Maria
EM
IRCCS Casa Solliero della Sofferenza, Mendel Institute, Rome, Italy. w.valente@css-mendel.it
Salvi
Sergio
S
Ialongo
Tamara
T
Marongiu
Roberta
R
Elia
Antonio Emanuele
AE
Caputo
Viviana
V
Romito
Luigi
L
Albanese
Alberto
A
Dallapiccola
Bruno
B
Bentivoglio
Anna Rita
AR
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase
D011494:Protein Kinases; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase