title: The peripheral messenger RNA expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3β genes in Alzheimer's disease patients: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the peripheral leucocytic messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) gene in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using TaqMan relative quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed leucocytic gene expression of GSK-3β in 48 AD patients and 49 healthy controls. Clinical data of AD patients were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA expression level of the GSK-3β gene was significantly higher in the AD group (3.13±0.62) than in the normal group (2.77±0.77). Correlational analyses showed that the mRNA expression level of GSK-3β gene in AD patients was associated with the age of onset (P=0.047), age (P=0.055), and Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale total score (P=0.062) and subscores: aggressiveness score (P=0.073) and anxieties and phobias score (P=0.067). Through multivariate regression model, older age, higher anxieties and phobias score and aggressiveness score were associated with higher mRNA expression level of GSK-3β gene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In AD patients, the mRNA expression level of the GSK-3β gene is increased and may be related to age and behavioural pathology in AD.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Tze-Pin
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Chun-Bo
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guang-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yi-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Jing-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shun-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019914:Taq Polymerase
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D019914:Taq Polymerase