title: Association study of COX-2 (PTGS2) -765 G/C promoter polymorphism by pyrosequencing in Sicilian patients with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progression of memory problems to a slow global decline of cognitive function. Inflammation when left unregulated becomes a major cofactor in the pathogenesis of AD. PTGS2 is of crucial relevance in the inflammatory response, and it has been shown to play a considerable role in AD pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the possible putative role of a PTGS2 polymorphism (-765 G/C) in AD patients, we examined, by pyrosequencing, its distribution in 84 Sicilian AD patients and in 80 controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant statistical difference in PTGS2 -765 G/C genotype distribution was found comparing patients with AD and controls. In addition, no significant difference was observed in the distribution of the PTGS2 -765 alleles between AD patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the PTGS2 -765 G/C polymorphism may not be associated with AD in the Sicilian population.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Associazione Oasi Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging, Troina, Italy.
authors.forename: Salemi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michele
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Associazione Oasi Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging, Troina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Salluzzo
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Calogero
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Associazione Oasi Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging, Troina, Italy.
authors.forename: Ferri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raffaele
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Associazione Oasi Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging, Troina, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bosco
keywords: Alzheimer disease; COX-2 gene; polymorphism; pyrosequencing