Association of RAGE gene polymorphisms with sporadic Parkinson's disease in Chinese Han population

•RAGE gene −374T/A, − 429T/C, G82S polymorphisms were examined in a Han Chinese chort.•The −429T/C polymorphism in RAGE gene is associated with the susceptibility of PD.•No association was found between genotype in −374T/A, G82S polymorphism and PD.

Previous studies have corroborated receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) ablation had a protective effect on nigral dopaminergic neurons in the MPTP model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Genetic variation of RAGE gene may be associated with the development of onset of sporadic PD. The present study aimed to explore the possible association of RAGE gene polymorphisms namely −374T/A,−429T/C, and G82S with PD. A total of 285 PD patients and 285 healthy-matched individuals in Chinese Han population were enrolled. Genotype analyses were performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Only the −429T/C polymorphism denoted a significant difference between PD patients and controls (P = 0.015) of the three examined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Our data also revealed that −429C allele carriers seem to have a decreased risk of PD (OR = 0.617, P = 0.007). Moreover, there were significant differences in genotype distribution in female PD group and its healthy-matched control subgroup (P = 0.014), as well as between late-onset PD (LOPD) and the controls subgroup (P = 0.016). However, for −374T/A and 82GS polymorphisms, there was no significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies between PD patients and the controls, as well as gender- and age-related differences. Our present findings indicate that the RAGE −429T/C polymorphism may be associated with the susceptibility of PD and the CC genotype of −429T/C may be a protective factor for PD in Chinese Han population.