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ABSTRACT: The tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene encodes a monoxygenase that catalyzes the rate limiting step in dopamine biosynthesis. A hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Consistent with the essential role of TH in dopamine homeostasis, missense mutations in both alleles of TH have been associated with severe Parkinsonism-related phenotypes including infantile Parkinsonism. It has been speculated for a long time that genetic variants in the TH gene modify adult-onset PD susceptibility but the answer has not been clear. Genetic variants (both sequence variations and structural variations) can be classified into three categories based on their relative frequency in population: common variants (polymorphisms), rare variants and mutations. Each of these factors has a different mode in influencing the genetic risk and often requires different approaches to decipher their contributions to the disease. In the past few years, the revolutionary advances in genomic technology have allowed systematic evaluations of these genetic variants in PD, such as the genome-wide association study (GWAS, to survey common variants), copy number variation analysis (to detect structural variations), and massive parallel next generation sequencing (to detect rare variants and mutations). In this review, we have summarized the latest evidence on TH genetic variants in PD, including our ongoing effort of using whole exome sequencing to search for rare variants in PD patients.
CNS & neurological disorders drug targets 05/2012; 11(4):469-81. · 3.57 Impact Factor
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R M Carney,
M A Slifer,
P I Lin,
P C Gaskell,
W K Scott,
C F Potocky,
C M Hulette,
K A Welsh-Bohmer,
D E Schmechel, J M Vance,
M A Pericak-Vance
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ABSTRACT: Historically, data for genetic studies are collected at one time point. However, for diseases with late onset or with complex phenotypes, such as Alzheimer disease (AD), restricting diagnosis to a single ascertainment contact may not be sufficient. Affection status may change over time and some initial diagnoses may be inconclusive. Follow-up provides the opportunity to resolve these complications. However, to date, previous studies have not formally demonstrated that longitudinally re-contacting families is practical or productive. To update data initially collected for linkage analysis of late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD), we successfully re-contacted 63 of 81 (78%) multiplex families (two to 17 years after ascertainment). Clinical status changed for 73 of the 230 (32%) non-affected participants. Additionally, expanded family history identified 20 additional affected individuals to supplement the data set. Furthermore, fostering ongoing relationships with participating families helped recruit 101 affected participants into an autopsy and tissue donation program. Despite similar presentations, discordance between clinical diagnosis and neuropathologic diagnosis was observed in 28% of those with tissue diagnoses. Most of the families were successfully re-contacted, and significant refinement and supplementation of the data was achieved. We concluded that serial contact with longitudinal evaluation of families has significant implications for genetic analyses.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics 08/2008; 147B(5):571-8. · 3.70 Impact Factor
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L Wang,
E R Hauser,
S H Shah,
D Seo,
P Sivashanmugam,
S T Exum,
S G Gregory,
C B Granger,
J L Haines,
C J H Jones,
D Crossman,
C Haynes,
W E Kraus,
N J Freedman,
M A Pericak-Vance,
P J Goldschmidt-Clermont, J M Vance
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ABSTRACT: Previous association mapping on chromosome 3q13-21 detected evidence for association at the limbic system-associated membrane protein (LSAMP) gene in individuals with late-onset coronary artery disease (CAD). LSAMP has never been implicated in the pathogenesis of CAD. We sought to thoroughly characterize the association and the gene. Non-redundant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the gene were examined in an initial dataset (168 cases with late-onset CAD, 149 controls). Stratification analysis on left main CAD (N = 102) revealed stronger association, which was further validated in a validation dataset (141 cases with left main CAD, 215 controls), a third control dataset (N = 255), and a family-based dataset (N = 2954). A haplotype residing in a novel alternative transcript of the LSAMP gene was significant in all independent case-control datasets (p = 0.0001 to 0.0205) and highly significant in the joint analysis (p = 0.00004). Lower expression of the novel alternative transcript was associated with the risk haplotype (p = 0.0002) and atherosclerosis burden in human aortas (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, silencing LSAMP expression in human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) substantially augmented SMC proliferation (p<0.01). Therefore, the risk conferred by the LSAMP haplotype appears to be mediated by LSAMP down-regulation, which may promote SMC proliferation in the arterial wall and progression of atherosclerosis.
Annals of Human Genetics 08/2008; 72(Pt 4):443-53. · 2.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The fibroblast growth factor 20 (FGF20) and monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) genes are associated with Parkinson Disease (PD) risk and both are in the dopamine bio-pathway. Therefore, we investigated the joint effect between polymorphisms in the FGF20 and MAOB genes for evidence of interaction contributing to PD risk. Fourteen polymorphisms (eight for FGF20, six for MAOB) were genotyped in 736 families and analyzed using conditional logistic regression (CLR). Significant two-locus interactions were found in females between the polymorphisms rs1721100 of FGF20 and rs1799836 of MAOB, and between the polymorphisms rs1721082 of FGF20 and rs1799836 of MAOB. The risk alleles for each SNP identified from CLR, rs1721100 C, rs1721082 T and rs1799836 A, are consistent with previous reports. Using indicator variables for the SNP genotypes, rs1721100 GC with rs1799836 AA showed significant interaction (P = 0.021), compared with the reference group rs1721100 GG with rs1799836 GG. Using an allele-dose model for the risk alleles, rs1721100 and rs1799836 showed significant interaction (P = 0.019). We found similar interaction results between rs1721082 and rs1799836. In conclusion, variants in FGF20 and MAOB show evidence of statistical interactions, which emphasizes the importance of considering them jointly in genetic analysis of PD and illustrates potential patterns of biological interaction contributing to PD risk.
Annals of Human Genetics 04/2008; 72(Pt 2):157-62. · 2.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Two recent association mapping studies in Parkinson disease (PD) reported three candidate genes for the PARK10 locus: EIF2B3 as a modifier of age-at-onset of PD (min P= 0.0004) and HIVEP3 as a PD risk gene (P < or = 0.006) (Oliveira et al. 2005); and LOC200008 (CDCP2) identified by the whole genome association (WGA) study of PD of Maraganore et al. (2005). However, evaluation of the on-line PD WGA results revealed two significant SNPs in HIVEP3 in the two datasets, Tier 1 and Tier 2, used by Maraganore et al. (P < or = 0.008 for Tier 1 and P=0.03 for Tier 2 dataset). Here, we revisited both the HIVEP3 and CDCP2 loci by examining 47 SNPs, mostly tagging, in an expanded PD family dataset (293 multiplex and 467 singleton families). A discordant sibpair (DSP) dataset (one DSP per family), with similar data structure as the WGA Tier 1 dataset, was also tested. We confirmed our and other previous negative findings for CDCP2. However, five significant SNPs in HIVEP3 (min P=0.004) were observed, although the two significant HIVEP3 SNPs from the PD WGA study were not significant in our datasets. Even though the sets of significant HIVEP3 markers differ between studies, these findings strongly support HIVEP3 as a candidate for PARK10. Further testing of HIVEP3 by other groups is encouraged.
Annals of Human Genetics 10/2007; 71(Pt 5):639-47. · 2.57 Impact Factor
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S H Shah,
W E Kraus,
D C Crossman,
C B Granger,
J L Haines,
C J H Jones,
V Mooser,
L Huang,
C Haynes,
E Dowdy,
G L Vega,
S M Grundy, J M Vance,
E R Hauser
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ABSTRACT: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and dyslipidemia have strong genetic components. Heterogeneity complicates evaluating genetics of complex diseases such as CAD; incorporating disease-related phenotypes may help reduce heterogeneity. We hypothesized that incorporating lipoproteins in a study of CAD would increase the power to map genes, narrow linkage peaks, identify phenotypic subsets, and elucidate the contribution of established risk factors to genetic results. We performed ordered subset analysis (OSA) and quantitative trait linkage (QTL) using serum lipoproteins and microsatellite markers in 346 families with early-onset CAD. OSA defined homogeneous subsets and calculated lod scores across a chromosome after ranking families by mean lipoprotein values. QTL used variance components analysis. We found significantly increased linkage to chromosome 3q13 (LOD 5.10, p = 0.008) in families with higher HDL cholesterol, lower LDL and total cholesterol, lower triglycerides, and fewer CAD risk factors, possibly due to a concentrated non-lipoprotein-related genetic effect. OSA identified linkage on chromosome 5q34 in families with higher cholesterol, possibly representing a hereditary lipoprotein phenotype. Multiple QTLs were identified, with the strongest for: total cholesterol on chromosome 5q14 (LOD 4.3); LDL on 20p12 (LOD 3.97); HDL on 3p14 (LOD 1.65); triglycerides on 18q22 (LOD 1.43); and HDL/TC ratio on 3q27-28 (LOD 2.06). Our findings suggest the presence of etiologic heterogeneity in families with early-onset CAD, potentially due to differential effects of lipoprotein phenotypes. Candidate genes are under investigation.
Annals of Human Genetics 12/2006; 70(Pt 6):738-48. · 2.57 Impact Factor
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Neurology 09/2005; 65(3):496-7. · 8.31 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To determine whether people with Parkinson disease (PD) are less likely to report a history of cigarette smoking than their unaffected siblings.
Previous studies reported that individuals with PD are half as likely to have smoked as those unaffected by PD. Other studies reported that smoking modified the risk of PD due to polymorphisms in the MAO-B and nNOS genes. Thus, genetic studies of PD should consider confounding or interaction with smoking history as well. The authors have collected detailed smoking histories on a family-based case-control sample ascertained for genetic studies of PD.
In a matched case-control study of 140 sibships, individuals with PD (n = 143) were compared to sibling controls (n = 168). Cigarette smoking history was collected by a structured telephone interview. Conditional logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between smoking and PD while controlling for confounding by age and sex.
Ever smoking, current smoking, and increasing duration (in years), dose (in packs/day), and intensity (in pack-years) of smoking were significantly inversely associated with PD (p < 0.05). The association was not modified by sex, age at onset, or recency of exposure.
Consistent with previous studies, individuals with Parkinson disease are significantly less likely to have smoked regularly than their unaffected siblings. This association was detected even though discordant sibling pairs are more likely to be overmatched for environmental exposures than unmatched case and control groups.
Neurology 02/2005; 64(3):442-7. · 8.31 Impact Factor
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Y J Li,
M A Hauser,
W K Scott,
E R Martin,
M W Booze,
X J Qin,
J W Walter,
M A Nance,
J P Hubble,
W C Koller,
R Pahwa,
M B Stern,
B C Hiner,
J Jankovic,
C G Goetz,
G W Small,
F Mastaglia,
J L Haines,
M A Pericak-Vance, J M Vance
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ABSTRACT: Similarities between Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) suggest a possible role for apolipoprotein E (APOE) in PD. Most previous studies seeking to establish such a link used case-control datasets and results have been inconsistent.
To investigate APOE's role in PD using family-based association analyses.
APOE functional polymorphisms were genotyped for 658 PD affected families, including 282 multiplex and 376 singleton families. The pedigree disequilibrium test (PDT) and the genotype-PDT were used to test the risk effect of APOE. The Monks-Kaplan test was used to evaluate the effect of APOE on age at onset of PD.
APOE was significantly associated with risk of developing PD. Stratified analysis revealed that APOE was most strongly associated with families with a positive PD family history (global p = 0.003). Like AD, the APOE-4 allele increases disease risk while the APOE-3 allele decreases risk. We detected a positive association of APOE-3 (p = 0.019) and a negative association of APOE-4 (p = 0.015) with age at onset in PD.
The APOE-4 allele increases risk and decreases age at onset of PD, an association that may not be dependent upon cognitive impairment.
Neurology 07/2004; 62(11):2005-9. · 8.31 Impact Factor
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K L Raiford,
Y Shao,
I C Allen,
E R Martin,
M M Menold,
H H Wright,
R K Abramson,
G Worley,
G R DeLong, J M Vance,
M L Cuccaro,
J R Gilbert,
M A Pericak-Vance
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ABSTRACT: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by stereotypic and repetitive behavior and interests, together with social and communicative deficiencies. The results of several genomic screens suggest the presence of an autism susceptibility locus on chromosome 19p13.2-q13.4. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene on chromosome 19 encodes for a protein, apoE, whose different isoforms (E2, E3, E4) influence neuronal growth. APOE participates in lipid transport and metabolism, repair, growth, and maintenance of axons and myelin during neuronal development. The APOE protein competes with the Reelin protein for VLDL/APOER2 receptor binding. Several studies have reported evidence for an association between autism and the Reelin gene. Based on these data we tested for association between APOE and autism using family-based association methods in a data set of 322 autism families. Three promoter, one intronic, and one 3' UTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the APOE gene (-491a/t, -427c/t, -219g/t, 113c/g, and 5361c/t) as well as the APOE functional polymorphism (E2, E3, E4) were examined and failed to reveal significant evidence that autism is associated with APOE.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics 03/2004; 125B(1):57-60. · 3.70 Impact Factor
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K.L. Raiford,
Y. Shao,
I.C. Allen,
E.R. Martin,
M.M. Menold,
H.H. Wright,
R.K. Abramson,
G. Worley,
G.R. DeLong, J.M. Vance,
M.L. Cuccaro,
J.R. Gilbert,
M.A. Pericak-Vance
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ABSTRACT: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by stereotypic and repetitive behavior and interests, together with social and communicative deficiencies. The results of several genomic screens suggest the presence of an autism susceptibility locus on chromosome 19p13.2-q13.4. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene on chromosome 19 encodes for a protein, apoE, whose different isoforms (E2, E3, E4) influence neuronal growth. APOE participates in lipid transport and metabolism, repair, growth, and maintenance of axons and myelin during neuronal development. The APOE protein competes with the Reelin protein for VLDL/APOER2 receptor binding. Several studies have reported evidence for an association between autism and the Reelin gene. Based on these data we tested for association between APOE and autism using family-based association methods in a data set of 322 autism families. Three promoter, one intronic, and one 3′ UTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the APOE gene (−491a/t, −427c/t, −219g/t, 113c/g, and 5361c/t) as well as the APOE functional polymorphism (E2, E3, E4) were examined and failed to reveal significant evidence that autism is associated with APOE. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics 02/2004; 125B(1):57 - 60. · 3.70 Impact Factor
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J M van der Walt,
E R Martin,
W K Scott,
F Zhang,
M A Nance,
R L Watts,
J P Hubble,
J L Haines,
W C Koller,
K Lyons, [......],
F Mastaglia,
A D Roses,
J M Stajich,
M W Booze,
K Fujiwara,
R A Gibson,
L T Middleton,
B L Scott,
M A Pericak-Vance, J M Vance
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ABSTRACT: Recently, the authors demonstrated linkage in idiopathic PD to a region on chromosome 8p that contains the N-acetyltransferase genes, NAT1 and NAT2. The authors examined NAT1 and NAT2 for association with PD using family-based association methods and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The authors did not find evidence for association with increased risk for PD between any individual NAT1 or NAT2 SNP or acetylation haplotype (N = 397 families, 1,580 individuals).
Neurology 05/2003; 60(7):1189-91. · 8.31 Impact Factor
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W K Scott,
M A Nance,
R L Watts,
J P Hubble,
W C Koller,
K Lyons,
R Pahwa,
M B Stern,
A Colcher,
B C Hiner, [......],
R C Ribble,
E Rampersaud,
S G West,
R A Gibson,
L T Middleton,
A D Roses,
J L Haines,
B L Scott, J M Vance,
M A Pericak-Vance
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ABSTRACT: The relative contribution of genes vs environment in idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) is controversial. Although genetic studies have identified 2 genes in which mutations cause rare single-gene variants of PD and observational studies have suggested a genetic component, twin studies have suggested that little genetic contribution exists in the common forms of PD.
To identify genetic risk factors for idiopathic PD.
Genetic linkage study conducted 1995-2000 in which a complete genomic screen (n = 344 markers) was performed in 174 families with multiple individuals diagnosed as having idiopathic PD, identified through probands in 13 clinic populations in the continental United States and Australia. A total of 870 family members were studied: 378 diagnosed as having PD, 379 unaffected by PD, and 113 with unclear status.
Logarithm of odds (lod) scores generated from parametric and nonparametric genetic linkage analysis.
Two-point parametric maximum parametric lod score (MLOD) and multipoint nonparametric lod score (LOD) linkage analysis detected significant evidence for linkage to 5 distinct chromosomal regions: chromosome 6 in the parkin gene (MLOD = 5.07; LOD = 5.47) in families with at least 1 individual with PD onset at younger than 40 years, chromosomes 17q (MLOD = 2.28; LOD = 2.62), 8p (MLOD = 2.01; LOD = 2.22), and 5q (MLOD = 2.39; LOD = 1.50) overall and in families with late-onset PD, and chromosome 9q (MLOD = 1.52; LOD = 2.59) in families with both levodopa-responsive and levodopa-nonresponsive patients.
Our data suggest that the parkin gene is important in early-onset PD and that multiple genetic factors may be important in the development of idiopathic late-onset PD.
JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association 12/2001; 286(18):2239-44. · 30.03 Impact Factor
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E R Martin,
W K Scott,
M A Nance,
R L Watts,
J P Hubble,
W C Koller,
K Lyons,
R Pahwa,
M B Stern,
A Colcher, [......],
A Rogala,
M A Hauser,
F Zhang,
R A Gibson,
L T Middleton,
A D Roses,
J L Haines,
B L Scott,
M A Pericak-Vance, J M Vance
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ABSTRACT: The human tau gene, which promotes assembly of neuronal microtubules, has been associated with several rare neurologic diseases that clinically include parkinsonian features. We recently observed linkage in idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) to a region on chromosome 17q21 that contains the tau gene. These factors make tau a good candidate for investigation as a susceptibility gene for idiopathic PD, the most common form of the disease.
To investigate whether the tau gene is involved in idiopathic PD.
Among a sample of 1056 individuals from 235 families selected from 13 clinical centers in the United States and Australia and from a family ascertainment core center, we tested 5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the tau gene for association with PD, using family-based tests of association. Both affected (n = 426) and unaffected (n = 579) family members were included; 51 individuals had unclear PD status. Analyses were conducted to test individual SNPs and SNP haplotypes within the tau gene.
Family-based tests of association, calculated using asymptotic distributions.
Analysis of association between the SNPs and PD yielded significant evidence of association for 3 of the 5 SNPs tested: SNP 3, P =.03; SNP 9i, P =.04; and SNP 11, P =.04. The 2 other SNPs did not show evidence of significant association (SNP 9ii, P =.11, and SNP 9iii, P =.87). Strong evidence of association was found with haplotype analysis, with a positive association with one haplotype (P =.009) and a negative association with another haplotype (P =.007). Substantial linkage disequilibrium (P<.001) was detected between 4 of the 5 SNPs (SNPs 3, 9i, 9ii, and 11).
This integrated approach of genetic linkage and positional association analyses implicates tau as a susceptibility gene for idiopathic PD.
JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association 11/2001; 286(18):2245-50. · 30.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This unit describes simple, cost-effective preparation of DNA from whole blood or cultured cells that yields high-molecular-weight DNA suitable for both Southern blotting and the polymerase chain reaction. Preparation time may be shortened by substituting a high-salt precipitation procedure for the dialysis step; however, this results in a smaller average fragment size. The isolation of DNA from buccal swabs, collected from the inside of the cheek, is also described. The DNA is suitable for PCR analysis. Preparation of buffered phenol for DNA extraction is described in a support protocol. This unit describes simple, cost-effective preparation of DNA from whole blood or cultured cells that yields high-molecular-we.
Current protocols in human genetics / editorial board, Jonathan L. Haines ... [et al.] 06/2001; Appendix 3:Appendix 3B.
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I K Svenson,
A E Ashley-Koch,
P C Gaskell,
T J Riney,
W J Cumming,
H M Kingston,
E L Hogan,
R M Boustany, J M Vance,
M A Nance,
M A Pericak-Vance,
D A Marchuk
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ABSTRACT: Pure hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG) type 4 is the most common form of autosomal dominant hereditary SPG, a neurodegenerative disease characterized primarily by hyperreflexia and progressive spasticity of the lower limbs. It is caused by mutations in the gene encoding spastin, a member of the AAA family of ATPases. We have screened the spastin gene for mutations in 15 families consistent with linkage to the spastin gene locus, SPG4, and have identified 11 mutations, 10 of which are novel. Five of the mutations identified are in noninvariant splice-junction sequences. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis of mRNA from patients shows that each of these five mutations results in aberrant splicing. One mutation was found to be "leaky," or partially penetrant; that is, the mutant allele produced both mutant (skipped exon) and wild-type (full-length) transcripts. This phenomenon was reproduced in in vitro splicing experiments, with a minigene splicing-vector construct only in the context of the endogenous splice junctions flanking the splice junctions of the skipped exon. In the absence of endogenous splice junctions, only mutant transcript was detected. The existence of at least one leaky mutation suggests that relatively small differences in the level of wild-type spastin expression can have significant functional consequences. This may account, at least in part, for the wide ranges in age at onset, symptom severity, and rate of symptom progression that have been reported to occur both among and within families with SPG linked to SPG4. In addition, these results suggest caution in the interpretation of data solely obtained with minigene constructs to study the effects of sequence variation on splicing. The lack of full genomic sequence context in these constructs can mask important functional consequences of the mutation.
The American Journal of Human Genetics 06/2001; 68(5):1077-85. · 10.60 Impact Factor
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A Ashley-Koch,
E R Bonner,
P C Gaskell,
S G West,
R Tim,
C M Wolpert,
R Jones,
C D Farrell,
M Nance,
I K Svenson,
D A Marchuk,
R M Boustany, J M Vance,
W K Scott,
M A Pericak-Vance
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ABSTRACT: We evaluated seven families segregating pure, autosomal dominant familial spastic paraplegia (SPG) for linkage to four recently identified SPG loci on chromosomes 2q (1), 8q (2), 12q (3), and 19q (4). These families were previously shown to be unlinked to SPG loci on chromosomes 2p, 14q, and 15q. Two families demonstrated linkage to the new loci. One family (family 3) showed significant evidence for linkage to chromosome 12q, peaking at D12S1691 (maximum lod = 3.22). Haplotype analysis of family 3 did not identify any recombinants among affected individuals in the 12q candidate region. Family 5 yielded a peak lod score of 2.02 at marker D19S868 and excluded linkage to other known SPG loci. Haplotype analysis of family 5 revealed several cross-overs in affected individuals, thereby potentially narrowing the SPG12 candidate region to a 5-cM region between markers D19S868 and D19S220. Three of the families definitively excluded all four loci examined, providing evidence for further genetic heterogeneity of pure, autosomal dominant SPG. In conclusion, these data confirm the presence of SPG10 (chromosome 12), potentially reduce the minimum candidate region for SPG12 (chromosome 19q), and suggest there is at least one additional autosomal dominant SPG locus.
Neurogenetics 04/2001; 3(2):91-7. · 3.35 Impact Factor
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R R Allingham,
B Seo,
E Rampersaud,
M Bembe,
P Challa,
N Liu,
T Parrish,
L Karolak,
J Gilbert,
M A Pericak-Vance,
G K Klintworth, J M Vance
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ABSTRACT: Hereditary benign intraepithelial dyskeratosis (HBID) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by elevated epithelial plaques on the ocular and oral mucous membranes. It has been reported primarily, but not exclusively, in individuals of American Indian heritage in North Carolina. We have examined and obtained DNA on two large families affected by HBID. Using genetic linkage analysis we have localized the HBID gene to chromosome 4 (4q35) with a peak LOD score of 8.97. Molecular analysis of these data reveals that all individuals affected with HBID in both families demonstrate the presence of three alleles for two tightly linked markers, D4S1652 and D4S2390, which map to the telomeric region of 4q35. This suggests the presence of a duplication segregating with the disease phenotype that is most likely involved in its causation.
The American Journal of Human Genetics 03/2001; 68(2):491-4. · 10.60 Impact Factor
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M A Pericak-Vance,
J Grubber,
L R Bailey,
D Hedges,
S West,
L Santoro,
B Kemmerer,
J L Hall,
A M Saunders,
A D Roses,
G W Small,
W K Scott,
P M Conneally, J M Vance,
J L Haines
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ABSTRACT: Four genes affecting Alzheimer's Disease (AD)(AP, PS1, PS2, and APOE) have been identified and a fifth potential gene localized to chromosome 12. Collectively, these genes explain at most half of the genetic effect in AD. Understanding the genetics of AD is critical to developing new treatments. The quest to find the remaining AD genes led us to undertake a large genomic screen using over 466 families (730 affected sibpairs) in late-onset AD. In conjunction with this increase in power, we initiated several novel approaches to identify potential AD-related genes. This included stratification of the data into an autopsy-confirmed subset of 199 AD families. Each of these targeted analyses resulted in the identification of novel regions containing potential AD genetic risk factors. Our most significant finding was on chromosome 9 in the autopsy-confirmed subset where we obtained an MLS of 4.31. These approaches, together with new methodologies such as conditional linkage analysis, generalized family-based association tests (PDT), and a new generation of genetic markers (SNPs), opens the door for additional AD gene discovery. Such strategies are necessary if we are to understand the subtle and complex threads that, woven together, create the intricate tapestry of AD.
Experimental Gerontology 01/2001; 35(9-10):1343-52. · 3.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) is subdivided into three immunophenotypes (MCD types I, IA and II). Recently, mutations in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 gene (CHST6) were identified to cause MCD. The purpose of this study was to examine CHST6 for mutations in Icelandic patients with MCD type I.
Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes in the peripheral blood and the coding region of CHST6 was examined for mutations by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing.
Mutation analysis of the CHST6 coding region identified three different mutations in sixteen Icelandic patients with MCD type I. Eleven patients with MCD type I were homozygous for a C1075T mutation. One patient with MCD type I was found to be a compound heterozygous for C1075T and G1189C mutations. One family with MCD type I contained a 10 base pair insertion (ATGCTGTGCG) between nucleotides 707 and 708. In this family, two affected siblings had a homozygous insertion while both their affected mother and their affected maternal aunt had a heterozygous insertion and a heterozygous C1075T mutation.
Three different nucleotide changes were identified in the coding region of CHST6 in sixteen Icelandic patients with MCD type I. All three of these alterations are predicted to affect the translated protein and each of them corresponded to a particular disease haplotype that we had previously reported in this population.
Molecular vision 01/2001; 6:261-4. · 2.20 Impact Factor
