UNLABELLED: Machado-Joseph disease/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (MJD/SCA3) may rarely presents a parkinsonian phenotype. Considering that mutations in the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene have been associated with Parkinson disease, we investigated whether these would be more prevalent in MJD/SCA3 patients with parkinsonian manifestations than in those without them. METHODS: MJD/SCA3 patients with parkinsonian features were identified and compared to relatives and to a MJD/SCA3 control group with no such features. The GBA gene was sequenced and, in a subset of patients and in normal volunteers, GBA enzyme activity was measured. RESULTS: We have identified nine index MJD/SCA3 patients with parkinsonian manifestations. Overall, GBA sequence variations were found in 3/9 MJD/SCA3 index cases with parkinsonian manifestations (33%) and in 0/40 MJD/SCA3 controls without parkinsonism (p=0.03, Fisher exact test). The GBA sequence variations found were p.K(-27)R, p.E326K, and p.T369M. The latter two sequence variations were also found in two symptomatic relatives with no parkinsonian manifestations. A MJD/SCA3 relative belonging to the first positive pedigree and carrier of the p.K(-27)R mutation also presented parkinsonian manifestations. GBA activity in MJD/SCA3 patients was similar to those found in the normal control group. CONCLUSION: Sequence variations at the GBA gene may play a role as a minor, modifying gene of MJD/SCA3 phenotype. This hypothetical role was not related to changes in GBA activity in peripheral leukocytes.
UNLABELLED: Machado-Joseph disease/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (MJD/SCA3) may rarely presents a parkinsonian phenotype. Considering that mutations in the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene have been associated with Parkinson disease, we investigated whether these would be more prevalent in MJD/SCA3patients with parkinsonian manifestations than in those without them. METHODS:MJD/SCA3patients with parkinsonian features were identified and compared to relatives and to a MJD/SCA3 control group with no such features. The GBA gene was sequenced and, in a subset of patients and in normal volunteers, GBA enzyme activity was measured. RESULTS: We have identified nine index MJD/SCA3patients with parkinsonian manifestations. Overall, GBA sequence variations were found in 3/9 MJD/SCA3 index cases with parkinsonian manifestations (33%) and in 0/40 MJD/SCA3 controls without parkinsonism (p=0.03, Fisher exact test). The GBA sequence variations found were p.K(-27)R, p.E326K, and p.T369M. The latter two sequence variations were also found in two symptomatic relatives with no parkinsonian manifestations. A MJD/SCA3 relative belonging to the first positive pedigree and carrier of the p.K(-27)R mutation also presented parkinsonian manifestations. GBA activity in MJD/SCA3patients was similar to those found in the normal control group. CONCLUSION: Sequence variations at the GBA gene may play a role as a minor, modifying gene of MJD/SCA3 phenotype. This hypothetical role was not related to changes in GBA activity in peripheral leukocytes.
Authors: Roberto Rodríguez-Labrada; Ana Carolina Martins; Jonathan J Magaña; Yaimeé Vazquez-Mojena; Jacqueline Medrano-Montero; Juan Fernandez-Ruíz; Bulmaro Cisneros; Helio Teive; Karen N McFarland; Maria Luiza Saraiva-Pereira; César M Cerecedo-Zapata; Christopher M Gomez; Tetsuo Ashizawa; Luis Velázquez-Pérez; Laura Bannach Jardim Journal: Cerebellum Date: 2020-06 Impact factor: 3.847
Authors: Lucilla Parnetti; Davide Chiasserini; Emanuele Persichetti; Paolo Eusebi; Shiji Varghese; Mohammad M Qureshi; Andrea Dardis; Marta Deganuto; Claudia De Carlo; Anna Castrioto; Chiara Balducci; Silvia Paciotti; Nicola Tambasco; Bruno Bembi; Laura Bonanni; Marco Onofrj; Aroldo Rossi; Tommaso Beccari; Omar El-Agnaf; Paolo Calabresi Journal: Mov Disord Date: 2014-01-16 Impact factor: 10.338