title: Alpha-synuclein mRNA expression in sporadic Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The expression of alpha-synuclein gene can be influenced by the genomic load and/or epigenetic factors. By using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques, we demonstrated that the alpha-synuclein gene mRNA expression in sporadic PD did not differ from healthy controls (median [range] 0.110 ]0.012-0.628] vs. 0.120 [0.028-0.447]; P = 0.15). There was no difference in the alpha-synuclein gene dosage between PD patients with high and low mRNA expression. Multivariate analysis did not reveal age, gender, or cigarette smoking as confounding variables. Our study suggests that there was no significant alteration of alpha-synuclein mRNA expression in our sporadic PD patients compared to controls. However, the role of alpha-synuclein mRNA expression in select groups of sporadic PD patients and its interaction with environmental agents need to be further determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. gnrtek@sgh.com.sg
authors.forename: Eng-King
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Van R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fook-Chong
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yew
authors.forename: Mei-Lin
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.forename: Yih
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497604:SNCA protein, human; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein