title: Analysis of the effect of aluminum in drinking water and transferrin C2 allele on Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Although highly controversial, the hypothesis of a link between aluminum (Al) in drinking water and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been supported by several epidemiological studies. Transferrin (Tf) is a major transport protein for both iron and Al. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that defective binding of iron and Al to the Tf variant C2 could be present in AD. Individuals carrying the Tf C2 allele might therefore be at greater risk of developing AD. We investigated whether the Tf C2 allele might be responsible for susceptibility to AD in a sample of 292 subjects (with 55 AD) aged > or = 75 years from south-west France, some exposed to high levels of Al in tap water (n = 181 subjects) and others to low levels of Al (n = 111 subjects). We also examined the combined genetic effects of Tf C2 and epsilon4 allele of apolipoprotein E gene (ApoE). Logistic regression analysis showed that neither Tf C2 nor its interaction with Al or with the epsilon4 allele of the ApoE were significantly associated with the risk of AD.
authors.affiliation: INSERM EMI 0338, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. virginie.rondeau@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rondeau
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iron
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Letenneur
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Commenges
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duchêne
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arveiler
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dartigues
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D000535:Aluminum / Q000633:toxicity*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D014168:Transferrin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D009498:Neurotoxins; D014168:Transferrin; D000535:Aluminum