| 1. |
- Andersson, Carl-Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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A Genetic Variant of the Sortilin 1 Gene isAssociated with Reduced Risk ofAlzheimer's Disease
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 53:4, s. 1353-1363
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder represented by the accumulation of intracellular tau protein and extracellular deposits of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain. The gene sortilin 1 (SORT1) has previously been associated with cardiovascular disease in gene association studies. It has also been proposed to be involved in AD pathogenesis through facilitating Aβ clearance by binding apoE/Aβ complexes prior to cellular uptake. However, the neuropathological role of SORT1 in AD is not fully understood. To evaluate the associations between gene variants of SORT1 and risk of AD, we performed genetic analyses in a Swedish case-control cohort. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), covering the whole SORT1 gene, were selected and genotyped in 620 AD patients and 1107 controls. The SNP rs17646665, located in a non-coding region of the SORT1 gene, remained significantly associated with decreased risk of AD after multiple testing (pc=0.0061). In addition, other SNPs were found to be nominally associated with risk of AD, as well as altered cognitive function and the CSF biomarker Aβ42, but these associations did not survive correction for multiple testing. The fact that SORT1 has been strongly associated with risk of cardiovascular disease is intriguing as cardiovascular disease is also regarded as a risk factor for AD. Finally, increased knowledge about SORT1 function has a potential to increase our understanding of APOE, the strongest risk factor for AD.
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| 2. |
- Celojevic, Dragana, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic Variation of Superoxide Dismutases in Patients with Primary Open-angle Glaucoma
- 2014
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Ingår i: Ophthalmic Genetics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1381-6810 .- 1744-5094. ; 35:2, s. 79-84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Purpose: Oxidative stress has been described as an underlying pathogenetic mechanism in retinal ganglion cell apoptosis, which is a hallmark of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are enzymes involved in the protection against oxidative stress by detoxification of superoxide. In this study, we investigated a number of disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the copper-zinc-containing SOD1 and SOD3, and in the manganese superoxide dismutase SOD2, in POAG patients. Methods: The study included 239 patients with POAG and 185 controls, all of Estonian origin, recruited at two ophthalmic clinics in Tartu, Estonia. Eleven SNPs, either functional, disease-associated or tag SNPs in SOD1, SOD2 and SOD3 were genotyped using TaqMan Allelic Discrimination. Haplotype analysis was performed on the SNPs in SOD2. Results: Using binary logistic regression in an additive model, the rs2842980 SNP in SOD2 was significantly associated with POAG diagnosis (p=0.03) at a univariate level. None of the studied SNPs showed an association with risk of POAG in a multivariate analysis, including age and current smoking as covariates. Analysis of SOD2 haplotypes did not show any association with risk of POAG. Conclusions: If oxidative stress is an important mechanism in POAG-related retinal ganglion cell death, genetic variations in SOD1, SOD2 and SOD3 are not major contributors in the pathogenesis.
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| 3. |
- Celojevic, Dragana, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Superoxide dismutase gene polymorphisms in patients with age-related cataract
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ophthalmic genetics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1744-5094 .- 1381-6810. ; 34:3, s. 140-145
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Functional polymorphisms in genes encoding antioxidant enzymes may result in reduced enzyme activity and increased levels of reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide radicals, which in turn may contribute to increased risk of age-related disorders. Copper-zinc superoxide dismutases, SOD-1 and SOD-3, and manganese superoxide dismutase, SOD-2, are enzymes involved in the protection against oxidative stress and detoxification of superoxide. In this study, we investigated a number of disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of SOD1, SOD2 and SOD3, in patients with age-related cataract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included an Estonian sample of 492 patients with age-related cataract, subgrouped into nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular and mixed cataract, and 185 controls. Twelve SNPs in SOD1, SOD2 and SOD3 were genotyped using TaqMan Allelic Discrimination. Haplotype analysis was performed on the SNPs in SOD2. RESULTS: None of the studied SNPs showed an association with risk of cataract. These results were consistent after adding known risk factors (age, sex and smoking) as covariates in the multivariate analyses and after stratification by cataract subtype. Analysis of SOD2 haplotypes did not show any associations with risk of cataract. CONCLUSIONS: If genetic variation in genes encoding SOD-1, SOD-2 and SOD-3 contributes to cataract formation, there is no major contribution of the SNPs analyzed in the present study.
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| 4. |
- Daborg, Jonny, et al.
(författare)
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Complement Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Biomarker Endophenotypes of Alzheimer's Disease
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - 1387-2877. ; 35:1, s. 51-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The complement system has been implicated in both physiological synapse elimination and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigated associations between four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in complement genes and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for AD in 452 neurochemically or neuropathologically verified AD cases and 678 cognitively normal controls. None of the SNPs associated with risk of AD but there were potential associations of rs9332739 in the C2 gene and rs4151667 in the complement factor B gene with CSF tau levels (p = 0.023) and Mini-Mental State Examination scores (p = 0.012), both of which may be considered markers of disease intensity/severity.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- von Otter, Malin, 1978, et al.
(författare)
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Kinesin Light Chain 1 Gene Haplotypes in Three Conformational Diseases
- 2010
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Ingår i: NeuroMolecular Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1535-1084 .- 1559-1174. ; 12:3, s. 229-236
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A functional intracellular transport system is essential to maintain cell shape and function especially in elongated cells, e.g. neurons and lens fibre cells. Impaired intracellular transport has been suggested as a common pathological mechanism for age-related diseases characterised by protein aggregation. Here, we hypothesise that common genetic variation in the transport protein kinesin may influence the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related cataract. This case-control study involves a PD material (165 cases and 190 controls), an AD material (653 cases and 845 controls) and a cataract material (495 cases and 183 controls). Genetic variation in the kinesin light chain 1-encoding gene (KLC1) was tagged by six tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Single SNPs and haplotypes were analysed for associations with disease risk, age parameters, mini-mental state examination scores and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for AD using logistic or linear regression. Genetic variation in KLC1 did not influence risk of PD. Weak associations with risk of AD were seen for rs8007903 and rs3212079 (P (c) = 0.04 and P (c) = 0.02, respectively). Two SNPs (rs8007903 and rs8702) influenced risk of cataract (P (c) = 0.0007 and P (c) = 0.04, respectively). However, the allele of rs8007903 that caused increased risk of AD caused reduced risk of cataract, speaking against a common functional effect of this particular SNP in the two diseases. Haplotype analyses did not add significantly to the associations found in the single SNP analyses. Altogether, these results do not convincingly support KLC1 as a major susceptibility gene in any of the studied diseases, although there is a small effect of KLC1 in relation to cataract.
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| 7. |
- von Otter, Malin, 1978, et al.
(författare)
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Nrf2-encoding NFE2L2 haplotypes influence disease progression but not risk in Alzheimer's disease and age-related cataract
- 2010
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Ingår i: Mechanisms of Ageing and Development. - : Elsevier BV. - 0047-6374 .- 1872-6216. ; 131:2, s. 105-110
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related cataract, disorders characterized by protein aggregation causing late-onset disease, both involve oxidative stress. We hypothesize that common variants of NFE2L2 and KEAP1, the genes encoding the main regulators of the Nrf2 system, an important defence system against oxidative stress, may influence risk of AD and/or age-related cataract. This case-control study combines an AD material (725 cases and 845 controls), and a cataract material (489 cases and 182 controls). Genetic variation in NFE2L2 and KEAP1 was tagged by eight and three tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), respectively. Single SNPs and haplotypes were analyzed for associations with disease risk, age parameters, MMSE and AD cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. NFE2L2 and KEAP1 were not associated with risk of AD or cataract. However, one haplotype allele of NFE2L2 was associated with 2 years earlier age at AD onset (pc 0.013) and 4 years earlier age at surgery for posterior subcapsular cataract (p(c) = 0.019). Another haplotype of NFE2L2 was associated with 4 years later age at surgery for cortical cataract (p(c) = 0.009). Our findings do not support NFE2L2 or KEAP1 as susceptibility genes for AD or cataract. However, common variants of the NFE2L2 gene may affect disease progression, potentially altering clinically recognized disease onset. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Ahlgren, Erika, et al.
(författare)
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Association between Plasma Homocysteine Levels and Neuronal Injury in HIV Infection
- 2016
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To investigate the role of homocysteine in neuronal injury in HIV infection. Methods Using a cross-sectional design and archived samples, we compared concentrations of plasma homocysteine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light protein (NFL), a sensitive marker of neuronal injury, in 83 HIV-1-infected subjects without antiretroviral treatment. We also analyzed plasma vitamin B12, serum folate, CSF, and plasma HIV RNA, the immune activation marker neopterin in CSF and serum, and albumin ratio as a marker of blood-brain barrier integrity. Twenty-two subjects provided a second sample median of 12.5 months after antiretroviral treatment initiation. Results A significant correlation was found between plasma homocysteine and CSF NFL concentrations in untreated individuals (r = 0.52, p < 0.0001). As expected, there was a significant inverse correlation between homocysteine and B12 (r = -0.41, p < 0.001) and folate (r = -0.40, p = < 0.001) levels. In a multiple linear regression analysis homocysteine stood out as an independent predictor of CSF NFL in HIV-1-infected individuals. The correlation of plasma homocysteine and CSF NFL was also present in the group receiving antiretroviral therapy (r = 0.51, p = 0.016). Conclusion A correlation between plasma homocysteine and axonal injury, as measured by CSF NFL, was found in both untreated and treated HIV. While this study is not able to prove a causal link, homocysteine and functional B12/folate deficiency appear to play a role in neural injury in HIV-infected individuals.
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| 9. |
- Anesten, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Blood-brain barrier integrity, intrathecal immunoactivation, and neuronal injury in HIV.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Neurology, Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. - 2332-7812. ; 3:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment has been reported in HIV-infected individuals, characterization of this impairment has not been clearly defined.BBB integrity was measured by CSF/plasma albumin ratio in this cross-sectional study of 631 HIV-infected individuals and 71 controls. We also analyzed CSF and blood HIV RNA and neopterin, CSF leukocyte count, and neurofilament light chain protein (NFL) concentrations. The HIV-infected participants included untreated neuroasymptomatic patients, patients with untreated HIV-associated dementia (HAD), and participants on suppressive antiretroviral treatment (ART).The albumin ratio was significantly increased in patients with HAD compared to all other groups. There were no significant differences between untreated neuroasymptomatic participants, treated participants, and controls. BBB integrity, however, correlated significantly with CSF leukocyte count, CSF HIV RNA, serum and CSF neopterin, and age in untreated neuroasymptomatic participants. In a multiple linear regression analysis, age, CSF neopterin, and CSF leukocyte count stood out as independent predictors of albumin ratio. A significant correlation was found between albumin ratio and CSF NFL in untreated neuroasymptomatic patients and in participants on ART. Albumin ratio, age, and CD4 cell count were confirmed as independent predictors of CSF NFL in multivariable analysis.BBB disruption was mainly found in patients with HAD, where BBB damage correlated with CNS immunoactivation. Albumin ratios also correlated with CSF inflammatory markers and NFL in untreated neuroasymptomatic participants. These findings give support to the association among BBB deterioration, intrathecal immunoactivation, and neuronal injury in untreated neuroasymptomatic HIV-infected individuals.
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| 10. |
- Anesten, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of antiretroviral treatment on blood-brain barrier integrity in HIV-1 infection.
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMC neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2377. ; 21:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Blood-brain barrier (BBB) injury is prevalent in patients with HIV-associated dementia (HAD) and is a frequent feature of HIV encephalitis. Signs of BBB damage are also sometimes found in neuroasymptomatic HIV-infected individuals without antiretroviral therapy (ART). The aim of this study was to investigate the integrity of the BBB before and after initiation of ART in both neuroasymptomatic HIV infection and in patients with HAD.We determined BBB integrity by measuring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/plasma albumin ratios in archived CSF samples prior to and after initiation of ART in longitudinally-followed neuroasymptomatic HIV-1-infected individuals and patients with HAD. We also analyzed HIV RNA in blood and CSF, IgG Index, CSF WBC counts, and CSF concentrations of β2-micoglobulin, neopterin, and neurofilament light chain protein (NfL).We included 159 HIV-infected participants; 82 neuroasymptomatic individuals and 77 with HAD. All neuroasymptomatic individuals (82/82), and 10/77 individuals with HAD, were longitudinally followed with a median (interquartile range, IQR) follow-up of 758 (230-1752) days for the neuroasymptomatic individuals, and a median (IQR) follow-up of 241 (50-994) days for the individuals with HAD. Twelve percent (10/82) of the neuroasymptomatic individuals and 80% (8/10) of the longitudinally-followed individuals with HAD had elevated albumin ratios at baseline. At the last follow-up, 9% (7/82) of the neuroasymptomatic individuals and 20% (2/10) of the individuals with HAD had elevated albumin ratios. ART significantly decreased albumin ratios in both neuroasymptomatic individuals and in patients with HAD.These findings indicate that ART improves and possibly normalizes BBB integrity in both neuroasymptomatic HIV-infected individuals and in patients with HAD.
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