GCH1 expression in human cerebellum from healthy individuals is not gender dependent.

Abstract

Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is a familial childhood-onset disease characterized by fluctuating dystonia, associated with tremor and parkinsonism in some patients. In most families the disease displays autosomal dominant inheritance due to mutations in the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 gene (GCH1). Penetrance and symptom severity display strong female predominance for which gender-specific GCH1 expression has been hypothesized. In this study, GCH1 mRNA expression was measured in cerebellar tissue from 66 healthy human subjects (30 women), and in cerebellar and nigral tissue from eight individuals. No significant difference was found between men and women with small effect sizes observed. Although the correlation between cerebellar and nigral GCH1 expression remains to be further examined, this exploratory study does not support gender-specific GCH1 expression being the basis for the skewed gender distribution observed in DRD patients.

• Authors: Christian Wider, Sarah Lincoln, Justus C Dachsel, Gregory Kapatos, Michael G Heckman, Nancy N Diehl, Spiridon Papapetropoulos, Deborah Mash, Alex Rajput, Ali H Rajput, Dennis W Dickson, Zbigniew K Wszolek, Matthew J Farrer
• Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett) Vol. 462 Issue 1 Pg. 73-5 (Oct 02 2009) ISSN: 1872-7972 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 19573577 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• RNA, Messenger
• GTP Cyclohydrolase

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aging
• Cerebellum (enzymology)
• Dystonic Disorders
• Female
• GTP Cyclohydrolase (metabolism)
• Humans
• Linear Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Sex Characteristics
• Substantia Nigra (metabolism)