Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

Interaction of alpha-synuclein and tau genotypes in Parkinson's disease.

Mamah CE, Lesnick TG, Lincoln SJ, Strain KJ, de Andrade M, Bower JH, Ahlskog JE, Rocca WA, Farrer MJ, Maraganore DM

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

To determine whether the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and alpha-synuclein (SNCA) genes interact to confer Parkinson's disease (PD) susceptibility, we conducted a study of 557 case-control pairs. There was an increased risk of PD for persons with either SNCA 261/261 or MAPT H1/H1 genotypes as compared with persons with neither (odds ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-2.86; p = 0.0003). However, the combined effect of the two genotypes was the same as for either of the genotypes alone (separate and equal). These findings are consistent with in vitro experiments that revealed tau-mediated fibrillization of alpha-synuclein protein at low concentrations (dose threshold effect).

Published 7 March 2005 in Ann Neurol, 57(3): 439-43.
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