Objectives: To investigate the polymorphism distribution of Val-9Ala and Ile+58Thr of the Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) gene among subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD) by analyses of genders and clinical severity.
Design and methods: We examined the DNA genotypes of Val-9Ala and Ile+58Thr from 295 PD subjects and 111 controls by nucleotide sequencing and BsaWI restriction.
Results: Ala/Ala homozygosity was found in four PD subjects but not in the controls. All of the genotypes at codon +58 among the examined samples were Ile/Ile homozygotes. Although higher carrier rate of Ala allele among PD subjects than the controls, there were no differences by analyses of the genders and clinical severity.
Conclusion: The higher Ala-allele carrier rate among PD subjects may suggest a possible higher amount of mitochondrial Mn-SOD rendering higher intracellular stress in PD. In this study the polymorphisms at codons -9 and+58 did not give informative association evidences with PD.
