1. ¹Department of Molecular Genetics, Bioresource Science Branch, Center for Bioresources, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
2. ²Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
3. ³Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
4. ⁴Imagawa Clinic, Fukushima-ku, Osaka, Japan
5. ⁵Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Biophysiological Science, Hirosaki University, School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
6. ⁶Division of Clinical Research, Kurihama Alcoholism Center, National Hospital Organization, Yokosuka, Japan
7. ⁷Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biological Regulation, Section of Environment and Health Science, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
8. ⁸Risk Management Office, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata, Japan
9. ⁹Department of Medical Informatics, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
10. ¹⁰National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
11. ¹¹Department of Medical Life Systems, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan

Correspondence: Professor R Kuwano, Niigata University, 1-757, Asahimachi, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8585, Japan. Tel: +81 25 227 2343; Fax: +81 25 227 0793; E-mail: ryosun@bri.niigata-u.ac.jp

Received 26 March 2008; Revised 2 July 2008; Accepted 12 September 2008; Published online 15 October 2008.

Abstract

The 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) is unequivocally recognized as a genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). Recently, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the GRB2-associated binding protein 2 gene (GAB2) were shown to be associated with LOAD in Caucasians carrying the APOE-4 allele through a genome-wide association study. Here, we attempted to replicate the finding by genotyping these SNPs in a large clinical cohort of Japanese. We observed no association of any of the SNPs with LOAD. GAB2 may not be a disease susceptibility gene for LOAD in Japanese.