Research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk factors detailed by scientists at Peking Union Medical College.
Fresh data on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are presented in the report 'Association between DPP6 polymorphism and the risk of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Chinese patients.' "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive degenerative disease characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brainstem, and cerebral cortex, which results in muscle weakness, atrophy. Sporadic ALS (SALS) accounts for about 90% of ALS cases, but the etiology is largely unknown," scientists in Beijing, People's Republic of China report (see also Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk Factors).
"Most of the researchers consider it to be a complex disease. There have been several genome-wide association (GWA) studies reporting several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which are susceptible to ALS, but no data of Asians (including Chinese) yet. We investigate whether the polymorphism of rs10260404 in DPP6 gene is associated with SALS in Chinese Han origin to compare the ethnic differences between Chinese Han origin and other populations. The genomic DNA was extracted from the leukocytes of whole blood samples in 58 Chinese Han patients with SALS and 52 healthy controls. The asymmetric PCR was processed in the presence of an unlabeled probe that contained the rs10260404 locus. The product was genotyped on a light scanner using high resolution melting method and some were confirmed with sequencing. The rs10260404 polymorphism was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in patients and controls. The CC genotype and the C allele were similar in patients compared with healthy subjects and not associated with an increased risk of Chinese SALS patients (chi(2)=0.29, OR=1.26, 95% CI 0.55 -2.87, p>0.05). The rs10260404 is not associated with ALS susceptibility in Chinese people with Han origin which may be due to ethnic differences," wrote X.G. Li and colleagues, Peking Union Medical College.
The researchers concluded: "More study with large number of cases in Chinese population is really necessary."
Li and colleagues published their study in Chinese Medical Journal (Association between DPP6 polymorphism and the risk of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Chinese patients. Chinese Medical Journal, 2009;122(24):2989-92).
For additional information, contact X.G. Li, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Dept. of Neurology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
The publisher's contact information for the Chinese Medical Journal is: Chinese Medical Association, 42 Dongsi Xidajie, Beijing 100710, People's Republic of China.
Keywords: City:Beijing, Country:People's Republic of China, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk Factors, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Atrophy, Genetics, Genomics, Motor Neuron Disease, Muscle Weakness, Neurology.
This article was prepared by Genomics & Genetics Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Genomics & Genetics Weekly via NewsRx.com
