Catechol-O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase B genes and susceptibility to sporadic Parkinson's disease in a Polish population

Recent reports have proved that genetic factors play a role in the pathogenesis of sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been suggested that polymorphisms in monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) and catechol-O-methyltransferase ( COMT) might increase the risk of PD. A total of 210 Polish patients with sporadic PD and 152 healthy controls were studied. The MAOB and COMT polymorphisms were identified using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The MAOB allele and genotype frequencies in PD patients did not differ significantly from the controls. A statistically lower frequency of the COMTLL genotype in patients with parkinsonism was found. The combined haplotype of the MAOB G (G/G) and COMTHL genotype showed a fourfold increase ( p < 0.05) in the risk of PD in female patients in this Polish population. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.