title: Variants in Antiviral Genes are Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline and Dementia.
abstract: A gene association study of factors regulating antiviral response such as interferon (IFN)-λ3, also known as IL-28B, mediator complex (Med) 23, and interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 7 with cognitive deterioration and Alzheimer's disease (AD) was performed. Differences in the TT genotype distribution of IL-28B single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) between AD patients and controls were found. The GG genotype of Med23 gene appeared to influence the progression of the disease, being more frequent in the APOE ɛ4 negative elderly that developed AD during the five year follow-up. Leukocyte positivity for Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV)-6 DNA was analyzed. Med23 GG genotype correlated with the positivity to HHV-6 DNA. EBV and HHV-6 plasma IgG levels were also investigated and EBV IgG levels were increased in AD with the IRF7 GG genotype. A differential genetic background in genes regulating anti-virus responses was associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and AD. EBV and HHV-6 appeared to be risk factors for AD in genetically susceptible elderly.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Licastro
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raschi
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porcellini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D050839:Interferon Regulatory Factor-7 / Q000235:genetics*; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D056892:Mediator Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D050839:Interferon Regulatory Factor-7; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D056892:Mediator Complex; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C494234:IRF7 protein, human; C492159:MED23 protein, human
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; antiviral genes; case-control study; gene polymorphisms; herpes virus infection