Genetic association of CDC2 with cerebrospinal fluid tau in Alzheimer's disease

• We have recently reported that a polymorphism in the cell division cycle <i>(CDC2) </i>gene, designated Ex6 + 7I/D, is associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The <i>CDC2</i> gene is located on chromosome 10q21.1 close to the marker D10S1225 linked to AD. Active cdc2 accumulates in neurons containing neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), a process that can precede the formation of NFT. Therefore, <i>CDC2 </i>is a promising candidate susceptibility gene for AD. We investigated the possible effects of the <i>CDC2</i> polymorphism on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in AD patients. <i>CDC2</i> genotypes were evaluated in relation to CSF protein levels of total tau, phospho-tau and β-amyloid_(1–42) in AD patients and control individuals, and in relation to the amount of senile plaques and NFT in the frontal cortex and in the hippocampus in patients with autopsy-proven AD and controls. The <i>CDC2</i> Ex6 + 7I allele was associated with a gene dose-dependent increase of CSF total tau levels (F_{2, 626} = 7.0, p = 0.001) and the homozygous <i>CDC2</i> Ex6 + 7II genotype was significantly more frequent among AD patients compared to controls (p = 0.006, OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.13–2.17). Our results provide further evidence for an involvement of cdc2 in the pathogenesis of AD.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

cyclin-dependent kinases

cell-death machinery

increased frequency

apolipoprotein-e

phosphorylation

protein

onset

standardization

bad

beta-amyloid((1-42))

Alzheimer's disease

CDC2

cell cycle

tau

beta-amyloid

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)