title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism is not associated with primary dystonia in a Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a modulator of synaptic and neural plasticity. Considering the association between dystonia and abnormal sensorimotor cortex plasticity, BDNF may be a candidate gene that confers susceptibility to dystonia. However, the association between Val66Met polymorphism of BDNF gene and primary dystonia is controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was performed to evaluate the association between Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene and primary dystonia in a cohort of 252 Chinese patients and in 214 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No association was identified between Val66Met polymorphism and primary dystonia or cervical dystonia (P=0.309 and P=0.803 respectively). In a subsequent subgroup analysis, there was also no difference in the distribution for age of onset.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings do not support that BDNF Val66Met polymorphism contributes to the risk of primary dystonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 1# Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing 100075, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lingyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yingmai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fubo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor