title: [Molecular genetic analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS/PDC) in the Kii peninsula].
abstract: Recent clinical research have revealed that more than 70% of the patients with ALS/PDC, which is highly prevalent in Hohara area in the Kii peninsula, have family history. 80% of Guamanian patients, who have identical pathological findings to those of ALS/PDC in Kii, are also known to have family history with non-Mendelian trait. These facts suggest strong genetic predisposition to ALS/PDC in both Kii and Guam. However, no genes associated with ALS/PDC have been identified by molecular genetic studies using candidate gene approach. To identify the causative or susceptibility genes for ALS/PDC, we have conducted a genomewide linkage analysis for five families with ALS/PDC in Hohara. The fact that affected individuals were ascertained in successive generations suggest an autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance, while the presence of consanguinity suggests an autosomal recessive (AR) inheritance. Although we can raise possibilities of AD model with incomplete penetrance or AR model with high gene frequency (pseudo-dominant model), the mode of inheritance of ALS/PDC families is complicated and controversial. Therefore, we are also conducting model-free (non-parametric) linkage analysis to identify the disease locus without setting mode of inheritance. More family members and detailed clinical evaluations are required to obtain the convincing evidence of linkage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University.
authors.forename: Kenju
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Ryozo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuwano
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kokubo
authors.forename: Ryogen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Masatoyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuzuhara
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuji
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*