FGF20 rs12720208 SNP and microRNA-433 variation: no

Abstract

DNA variation at the FGF20 gene has been associated with Parkinson´s disease (PD). In particular, SNP rs12720208 in the 3´ untranslated region (3´UTR) was linked to PD-risk through a mechanism that would implicate a differential binding to micro RNA – 433 (miR-433). The reduction of the affinity of miR-433 to the 3´UTR would result in increased FGF20 expression and upregulation of alpha-synuclein, that could in turn promote dopaminergic neurons degeneration. We genotyped the rs12720208 SNP in a total of 512 PD patients and 258 healthy controls from Spain, and searched for miR-433 variants in the patients. We did not find significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies between patients and controls. None of the patients had miR-433 variants. In conclusion, our work did not confirm the association between rs12720208 and PD, or an effect of miR-433 variants on this disease.