A single nucleotide polymorphism in the coding region of PGC-1α is a male-specific modifier of Huntington disease age-at-onset in a large European cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Genetic modifiers are important clues for the identification of therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative diseases. Huntington disease (HD) is one of the most common autosomal dominant inherited neurodegenerative diseases. The clinical symptoms include motor abnormalities, cognitive decline and behavioral disturbances. Symptom onset is typically between 40 and 50 years of age, but can vary by several decades in extreme cases and this is in part determined by modifying genetic factors. The metabolic master regulator PGC-1α, coded by the PPARGC1A gene, coordinates cellular respiration and was shown to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases, including HD.

Methods

Using a candidate gene approach we analyzed a large European cohort (n = 1706) from the REGISTRY study

SUBMITTER: Weydt P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3880172 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature