Chromogranin B P413L variant as risk factor and modifier of disease onset for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract

Recently, chromogranins were reported to interact specifically with mutant forms of superoxide dismutase that are linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This interaction led us to analyze the frequencies of sequence variants of the CHGB gene in ALS patients and matched controls from three different countries. Of particular interest was the finding of the P413L CHGB variant present in 10% of ALS patients (n = 705) as compared to 4.5% in controls (n = 751), conferring a 2.2-fold greater relative risk to develop the disease (P < 0.0001). This effect was mainly contributed by the samples of French origin that yielded a frequency of the P413L variation at 17% in ALS (n = 289) and 5% in controls (n = 448), conferring a 3.3-fold greater risk to develop ALS. Furthermore, the P413L CHGB variant is associated with an earlier age of onset by almost a decade in both sporadic ALS and familial ALS cases. Genetic variation influencing age of onset in ALS had not previously been reported. Expression of fusion CHGB-EGFP constructs in SHSY-5Y cells revealed that the P413L variation can cause defective sorting of CHGB into secretory granules. The finding that CHGB may act as a susceptibility gene and modifier of onset in ALS is consistent with the emerging view that dysfunction of the secretory pathway may contribute to increased vulnerability of motor neurons.

• Authors: Francois Gros-Louis, Peter M Andersen, Nicolas Dupre, Makoto Urushitani, Patrick Dion, Frederique Souchon, Monique D'Amour, William Camu, Vincent Meininger, Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Guy A Rouleau, Jean-Pierre Julien
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 106 Issue 51 Pg. 21777-82 (Dec 22 2009) ISSN: 1091-6490 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20007371 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Validation Study)

Chemical References

• Chromogranin B

Topics

• Adult
• Age of Onset
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (genetics)
• Chromogranin B (genetics)
• Exons
• Female
• France
• Humans
• Introns
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mutation
• Quebec
• Risk Factors