0000000000116621
AUTHOR
Rita Cittadella
Lack of association between estrogen receptor 1 gene polymorphisms and multiple sclerosis in southern Italy in humans
Estrogen receptor 1 gene polymorphisms (ESR1) have been found to be associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) in both Japanese and Finnish populations. We investigated the association between ESR1 polymorphisms (PvuII and XbaI) and MS in a study of 132 MS patients and 129 controls from the same geographic background (southern Italy). Allelic and genotypic frequencies were not different between MS patients and population controls for either the PvuII or XbaI polymorphism. This result suggests that the association between a given disease and a genomic characteristic must be confirmed by separate investigations in different populations. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Gender-related effect of clinical and genetic variables on the cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment may occur at any time during the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), and it is often a major cause of disability in patients with the disease. The APOE-epsilon4 allele is the major known genetic risk factor for late onset familial and sporadic Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and it seems to be implicated in cognitive decline in normal elderly persons. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and genetic variables that can be associated with the cognitive decline in patients with MS. METHODS: Five-hundred and three patients with clinically definite MS underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests and, according to the number of failed tests, were divided into cognit…
A novel mutation (Thr116IIe) in the presenilin 1 gene in a patient with early-onset Alzheimer's disease
We report a novel presenilin 1 (PSN1) mutation (Thr116Ile) in a woman with early onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). This mutation was not found in 100 healthy controls, indicating that this is not a common polymorphism. The patient presented with forgetfulness at age 45, followed over the next 3 years by a worsening of the memory loss and frequent episodes of confusion and spatial disorientation. Neuroimaging studies were consistent with AD. The analysis of the family's pedigree showed that the proband was apparently the only member affected. Because the early death of several close relatives (i.e. the mother and the grandmother) and the demonstration that the father is not a mutation carrier,…
Apolipoprotein E genotype does not influence the progression of multiple sclerosis
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms and the progression of MS. METHODS: We investigated 428 subjects affected by clinically defined MS, with a disease duration of at least three years. We collected data concerning the age at onset of MS, clinical type, disease duration and disability according to the expanded disability status scale (EDSS). We also calculated the progression index (PI) to evaluate disease progression. APOE genotyping and the -491 A/T polymorphism of the APOE promoter were determined. RESULTS: No association was observed between the APOE epsilon4 allele and clinical characteristics of our study population. We also investiga…
APOE epsilon variation in multiple sclerosis susceptibility and disease severity: some answers
Background: Previous studies have examined the role of APOE variation in multiple sclerosis (MS), but have lacked the statistical power to detect modest genetic influences on risk and disease severity. The meta- and pooled analyses presented here utilize the largest collection, to date, of MS cases, controls, and families genotyped for the APOE epsilon polymorphism. Methods: Studies of MS and APOE were identified by searches of PubMed, Biosis, Web of Science, Cochrane Review, and Embase. When possible, authors were contacted for individual genotype data. Meta-analyses of MS case-control data and family-based analyses were performed to assess the association of APOE epsilon genotype with dis…