DAPK1 Genetic Variations And Risk Of Late-onset Alzheimer's Disease

Objective To assess the involvement of the death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) polymorphisms in the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) in Han Chinese population.Methods Using a technique of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to analyze the genotype and allele distributions of the DAPK1 rs4877365 and rs4878104 polymorphisms in 400 LOAD cases and 400 healthy controls. The associations of the genotypes and allelic frequencies with the risk of LOAD were elucidated.Results There were significant differences in genotype (P=0.02) and allele (P=0.007) frequencies of DAPK1/rs4878104 (P=0.0026, odds ratios/OR=0.75) but not in DAPK1/rs4877365 between LOAD patients and controls. Logistic regression analysis revealed that homozygosity was strongly associated with LOAD under a recessive model (P=0.003, OR=0.23). No significant association was observed between rs4877365 and LOAD. Haplotype analysis identified the G/T haplotype as a risk factor of LOAD than others (p=0.004, OR=1.35 95%CI:1.10-1.66).Conclusions The T allele of rs4878104 and the A/T haplotype in DAPK1 gene increase the susceptibility to LOAD in the Northern Han Chinese population.