Severity of X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy correlates with size of the tandem cag repeat in androgen receptor gene
Manabu Doyu MD
Division of Neurology, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
Department of Neurology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Dr. Gen Sobue MD
Division of Neurology, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
Division of Neurology, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-11, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorEiichiro Mukai MD
Department of Neurology, National Nagoya Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorTeruhiko Kachi MD
Department of Neurology, National Chubu Hospital, Obu, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorTakeshi Yasuda MD
Department of Neurology, Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorTerunori Mitsuma MD
Division of Neurology, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorAkira Takahashi MD
Department of Neurology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorManabu Doyu MD
Division of Neurology, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
Department of Neurology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Dr. Gen Sobue MD
Division of Neurology, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
Division of Neurology, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-11, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorEiichiro Mukai MD
Department of Neurology, National Nagoya Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorTeruhiko Kachi MD
Department of Neurology, National Chubu Hospital, Obu, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorTakeshi Yasuda MD
Department of Neurology, Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorTerunori Mitsuma MD
Division of Neurology, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorAkira Takahashi MD
Department of Neurology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The genetic mutation of X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy is amplification of a polymorphic tandem CAG repeat in the androgen receptor gene. We studied this CAG repeat in 26 Japanese patients from 21 families with X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy. The number of CAG repeats was significantly correlated with the age at onset of limb muscular weakness (r = −0.596, p < 0.001) and age-adjusted scored disability (r = 0.446, p < 0.03). The length of the CAG repeat therefore seems to be a determinant factor of clinical severity.
References
- 1 Kennedy WR, Alter M, Sung JH. Progressive proximal spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy of late onset: a sex-linked recessive trait. Neurology 1968; 18: 671–680
- 2 Mukai E. Clinical features of bulbar-spinal muscular atrophy. Clin Neurol (Tokyo) 1980; 20: 255–263
- 3 Harding AE, Thomas PK, Baraister M, et al. X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy: a report of ten cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1982; 45: 1012–1019
- 4 Sobue G, Hashizume Y, Mukai E, et al. X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy, a clinico-pathological study. Brain 1989; 112: 209–232
- 5 Warner CL, Griffin JE, Wilson JD, et al. X-linked spinomuscular atrophy: a kindred with associated abnormal androgen receptor binding. Neurology 1992 (in press)
- 6 LaSpada AR, Wilson EM, Lubach DB, et al. Androgen receptor gene mutations in X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Nature 1991; 352: 77–79
- 7 Sar M, Stumpf WE. Androgen concentration in motor neurons of cranial nerves and spinal cord. Science 1977; 197: 77–80
- 8 Sheridan PJ, Weaker FJ. The primate spinal cord is a target for gonadal steroids. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 1981; 40: 447–453
- 9 Simental JA, Sar M, Lane MV, et al. Transcriptional activation and nuclear targeting signals of the human androgen receptor. J Biol Chem 1991; 266: 510–518
- 10 Fu Y-H, Kuhl DPA, Pizzuti A, et al. Variation of the CGG repeat at the fragile X site results in genetic instability: resolution of the Sherman paradox. Cell 1991; 67: 1047–1058
- 11 Verkerk AJMH, Pieretti M, Sutcliffe JS, et al. Identification of a gene (FMR-1) containing a CGG repeat coincident with a breakpoint cluster region exhibiting length variation in fragile X syndrome. Cell 1991; 65: 905–914
- 12 Oberle I, Heitz RD, Kreitz C, et al. Instability of a 550-base pair DNA segment and abnormal methylation in fragile X syndrome. Science 1991; 252: 1097–1102
- 13 Yu S, Kremer E, Lynch M, et al. Fragile X genotype characterized by an unstable region of DNA. Science 1991; 252: 1179–1181
- 14 Harley HG, Brook JD, Rundle SA, et al. Expression of anunstable DNA region and phenotypic variation in myotonic dystrophy. Nature 1992; 355: 545–546
- 15 Buxton J, Shelbourne P, Davies J, et al. Detection of an unstable fragment of DNA specific to individuals with myotonic dystrophy. Nature 1992; 355: 547–548
- 16 Aslanidis C, Jansen G, Amemia C, et al. Cloning of the essential myotonic dystrophy region and mapping of the putative defect. Nature 1992; 355: 548–551
- 17 Brook JD, McCurrach ME, Harley HG, et al. Molecular basis of myotonic dystrophy: expansion of a trinucleotide (CTG) repeat at the 3′ end of a transcript encoding a protein kinase family member. Cell 1992; 68: 799–808
- 18 Harley HG, Rundle SA, Reardon W, et al. Unstable DNA sequence in myotonic dystrophy. Lancet 1992; 339: 1125–1128