GCH1 expression in human cerebellum from healthy individuals is not gender dependent.
Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is a familial childhood-onset disease characterized by fluctuating dystonia, associated with tremor and parkinsonism in some patients. In most families the disease displays autosomal dominant inheritance due to mutations in the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 gene (GCH1). Penetrance and symptom severity display strong female predominance for which gender-specific GCH1 expression has been hypothesized. In this study, GCH1 mRNA expression was measured in cerebellar tissue from 66 healthy human subjects (30 women), and in cerebellar and nigral tissue from eight individuals. No significant difference was found between men and women with small effect sizes observed. Although the correlation between cerebellar and nigral GCH1 expression remains to be further examined, this exploratory study does not support gender-specific GCH1 expression being the basis for the skewed gender distribution observed in DRD patients.
Wider
Christian
C
Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. wider.christian@mayo.edu
Lincoln
Sarah
S
Dachsel
Justus C
JC
Kapatos
Gregory
G
Heckman
Michael G
MG
Diehl
Nancy N
NN
Papapetropoulos
Spiridon
S
Mash
Deborah
D
Rajput
Alex
A
Rajput
Ali H
AH
Dickson
Dennis W
DW
Wszolek
Zbigniew K
ZK
Farrer
Matthew J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000201:enzymology*; D020821:Dystonic Disorders; D005260:Female; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase