Association study of COX-2 (PTGS2) –765 G/C promoter polymorphism by pyrosequencing in Sicilian patients with Alzheimer's disease

INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progression of memory problems to a slow global decline of cognitive function. Inflammation when left unregulated becomes a major cofactor in the pathogenesis of AD. PTGS2 is of crucial relevance in the inflammatory response, and it has been shown to play a considerable role in AD pathogenesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS To assess the possible putative role of a PTGS2 polymorphism (-765 G/C) in AD patients, we examined, by pyrosequencing, its distribution in 84 Sicilian AD patients and in 80 controls. RESULTS No significant statistical difference in PTGS2 -765 G/C genotype distribution was found comparing patients with AD and controls. In addition, no significant difference was observed in the distribution of the PTGS2 -765 alleles between AD patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the PTGS2 -765 G/C polymorphism may not be associated with AD in the Sicilian population.