title: Genetic variation in the tau protein phosphatase-2A pathway is not associated with Alzheimer's disease risk.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tau abnormal hyperphosphorylation and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in AD brain is the result of upregulation of tau kinases and downregulation of tau phosphatases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a group of 729 Spanish late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and 670 healthy controls, we examined variations into a set of candidate genes (PPP2CA, PPP2R2A, ANP32A, LCMT1, PPME1 and PIN1) in the tau protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) pathway, to address hypotheses of genetic variation that might influence AD risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in the genotypic, allelic or haplotypic distributions between cases and controls in the overall analysis or after stratification by age, gender or APOE ε4 allele.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our negative findings in the Spanish population argue against the hypothesis that genetic variation in the tau protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) pathway is causally related to AD risk.
authors: Neurology Service and CIBERNED, "Marqués de Valdecilla" University Hospital (University of Cantabria and IFIMAV), Santander, Spain. combarro@unican.es.
authors: José L
authors: JL
authors: Vázquez-Higuera
authors: Ignacio
authors: I
authors: Mateo
authors: Pascual
authors: P
authors: Sánchez-Juan
authors: Eloy
authors: E
authors: Rodríguez-Rodríguez
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Pozueta
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Calero
authors: José L
authors: JL
authors: Dobato
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Frank-García
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Valdivieso
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Berciano
authors: Maria J
authors: MJ
authors: Bullido
authors: Onofre
authors: O
authors: Combarros