Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of unknown etiology in most cases. Both inflammation and gender may affect risk for Parkinson’s disease. The current study examined the -174G>C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene and the 1730G>A SNP in the estrogen receptor beta (ESR2) as potential risk factors in Parkinson’s disease. 380 unrelated American Caucasian Parkinson’s cases and 522 controls were studied, including 452 individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. Study results support a role for IL-6 and ESR2 in Parkinson’s disease. The IL-6 effect may be gender mediated in Non-Jewish Caucasians and independent from ESR2. An ESR2 effect was found exclusively in Jewish women.
San Luciano M et al. Gender differences in the IL6 -174G>C and ESR2 1730G>A polmorphisms and the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Neuroscience Letters 506(2): 312-316 (2012).
