Age is an important independent modifier of SCA3 phenotype severity. (10th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiao, Shujun; Wang, Puzhi; Chen, Zhao; Wang, Chunrong; Shi, Yuting; Qiu, Rong; Tang, Beisha; Jiang, Hong
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 741(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-10
• Subjects: Age -- ExpCAG -- SARA -- ICARS -- Phenotype-genotype association -- Modified factors; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135510
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Age is the most important independent variable influencing the phenotype of SCA3. There is an interaction between CAG repeats and developmental or aging factors. SCA3 phenotype severity might depend on the combined effects of this interaction. A phenotype-genotype association exists between age and severity of SCA3 phenotype. Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to investigate factors modulating spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) phenotype severity besides the expanded CAG repeats (ExpCAG) of ATXN3 . Methods: Data regarding CAG trinucleotide repeats, age at onset (AO), duration, age, sex, transmitting parent, and scale scores of SCA3 patients were collected. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify influential independent variables. Age, AO, ExpCAG, and duration were considered control variables to analyze the correlation between independent variables and scale scores. Results: Duration, age, and ExpCAG were screened as influential independent variables ( P = 0.000). Age had the greatest impact on multiple linear regression models ( P <5E-8). ExpCAG and SARA/ICARS/INAS/Barthel index were not correlated ( P > 0.05); considering only age as the control, ExpCAG was slightly-to-moderately correlated with all aforementioned scores except INAS ( P < 0.05). Age and all scores, except INAS, were positively correlated ( P < 0.05); considering duration, AO, or ExpCAG as controls, their correlations did not change significantly. On controlling age, AO was negatively correlated with all scores ( P < 0.05), except for the Barthel index ( P > 0.05). Furthermore, the interaction model revealed that the interaction between age, duration, and ExpCAG was significantly associated with SCA3 disease severity ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Age is a potentially important modifier of SCA3 phenotype severity, through the interaction between ExpCAG and aging factors.