Haplotype analysis of the engrailed-2 gene in young-onset Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Engrailed-2 is a homeobox transcription factor that is expressed in mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons from development to adulthood and probably plays an important role in the survival of these neurons.


METHODS
Here, we investigated six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region (rs1345514) or transcribed part (rs3735653, rs6460013, rs1861972, rs2361689, and rs3808330) of the engrailed-2 gene, respectively, in 103 discordant pairs with young-onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD).


RESULTS
The nominally significant p values in the single-marker and haplotype-based association analysis were suggestive of an association of SNP rs1345514 with YOPD.


CONCLUSIONS
Altogether, our data suggest the possibility that variations of the engrailed-2 gene are implicated in the development of YOPD, although our results with respect to SNP rs1345514 should be verified in an independent sample.
Rissling
Ida
I
Department of Neurology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
Strauch
Konstantin
K
Höft
Christine
C
Oertel
Wolfgang Hermann
WH
Möller
Jens Carsten
JC
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D000099266:Engrailed 2 Protein
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000099266:Engrailed 2 Protein