Association of Multiple Dopamine D3 Receptor Gene 3’UTR Polymorphisms with Susceptibility to Parkinson’s Disease and Clinical Efficacy of Piribedil Therapy

Main idea: certain genetic polymorphisms of DRD3, such as rs76126170, rs9868039, and rs9817063 are connected to Parkinson’s disease susceptibility and also high efficiency of piribedil treatment.

Abstract

To investigate the correlation between the Dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) 3’untranslated region (3’UTR) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to Parkinson’s disease (PD) and the clinical effect of the DRD2 and DRD3 agonist piribedil treatment. Sanger sequencing was used to analyze single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the 3’UTR loci of the DRD3 gene in 284 PD patients and 284 controls. PD patients were treated with piribedil sustained-release tablets (50 mg) combined with levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets three times daily for 3 months. The T allele carriers of the DRD3 gene locus were more susceptible to PD than the C allele carriers. Carriers of the rs9868039 A allele had a decreased risk of PD compared to those with the G allele. No significant correlation was observed between the alleles or genotypes of the rs3732790 locus and PD susceptibility. The various genotypes in PD patients were associated with significant differences with regard to reduction of UPDRS scores and Hoehn and Yahr stage after 3 months of treatment. The alleles and genotypes of the DRD3 gene 3′ UTR SNP loci are associated with PD susceptibility and the clinical efficacy of piribedil treatment.

Source Mary Ann Liebert