[Frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms and alpha-synuclein haplotypes associated with sporadic Parkinson's disease in the Mexican population].

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease which begins in adulthood. Its incidence in Mexico is estimated to be 40-50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants/year and is the fourth reason for medical care in the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery. The protein alpha-synuclein, SNCA, plays a key role in the pathology of PD, and its polymorphisms have been associated with an increased risk of developing the disease.

AIM: To evaluate the risk of PD represented by the polymorphisms rs2619364, rs2619363, rs2736990, rs7684318, rs17016074, rs356219, rs356220 and rs356203 of SNCA in a sample of Mexican subjects.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Altogether 171 patients diagnosed with PD and 171 gender- and age-paired controls were assessed by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction, and a statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between the polymorphisms and the disease.

RESULTS: The SNCA variants rs356220, rs356203, rs7684318 and rs2736990 were associated with the disease and form two haplotypes with a high risk of developing sporadic PD in the Mexican population.

CONCLUSIONS: Variations in SNCA are a risk factor for the development of PD and can act as specific genetic biomarkers as a diagnostic support tool in sporadic PD for Mexican mestizo patients.