title: Polymorphic Ala-allele carriers at residue 1170 of HER2 associated with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HER2, a receptor tyrosine kinase, was originally identified based on its role in cancer research. The protein has subsequently received attention for its role in nerve injury and neurodevelopment. We investigated the polymorphic association of HER2 variants at amino acid residues 655 and 1170 with Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify DNA samples from PD patients and control subjects. The resulting PCR fragments, which spanned HER2 residues 655 and 1170, were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism and/or direct nucleotide sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The genetic distribution at residue 655 in PD patients did not differ from that in controls. However, homozygosity for genes encoding Pro at residue 1170 (Pro/Pro) occurred at a significantly lower rate among PD subjects. In other words, Ala-allele carries higher frequency in PD, especially among female PD subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different signals or potency of the kinase activities resulting from the Ala1170Pro allele of HER2 may be associated with vulnerability to stress on dopaminergic neurons in PD.
authors: Department of Neurology, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. vwneur@yahoo.com.tw
authors: Vinchi
authors: V
authors: Wang
authors: Tzu-Chao
authors: TC
authors: Chuang
authors: Ming-Ching
authors: MC
authors: Kao
authors: Din-E
authors: DE
authors: Shan
authors: Bing-Wen
authors: BW
authors: Soong
authors: Tzong-Ming
authors: TM
authors: Shieh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000409:Alanine / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000409:Alanine; D004298:Dopamine; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human