After correction for multiple testing, we found one SNP, rs733722, in a promoter region of CHAT, is associated with response of AD patients to cholinesterase inhibitors (P = 0.03) and accounts for 6% of the variance in response to AChE inhibitors.
Because of the potential importance of this finding we analyzed this SNP and another functional SNP within exon 9 (rs868749) of the CHAT gene using a German case control sample consisting of 242 patients with AD and 143 cognitively healthy controls.
Association of Choline Acetyltransferase Gene Polymorphisms (SNPs rs868750G/A, rs1880676G/A, rs2177369G/A and rs3810950G/A) with Alzheimer's Disease Risk: A Meta-Analysis.
Association of Choline Acetyltransferase Gene Polymorphisms (SNPs rs868750G/A, rs1880676G/A, rs2177369G/A and rs3810950G/A) with Alzheimer's Disease Risk: A Meta-Analysis.
Pooled results of our meta-analysis indicated CHAT rs2177</span>369 polymorphism was correlated with decreasing AD risk in one of five genetic models (dominant: OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62-0.96), while rs3810950 mutant was associated with AD development in three models (allelic: OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01-1.37, homozygous: OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.09-2.42, and recessive: OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.20-2.26).
Furthermore, an association of rs1880676 with AD was specific to carriers of the APOEε4 risk allele (p = 0.008, genotype; OR = 3.47 95% CI 1.50-8.01 p = 0.005 allele-wise).
Our findings are consistent with the results of the meta-analytical studies of the relationship between rs3810950 polymorphism and AD and provide further material evidence for a direct (primary) involvement of cholinergic mechanisms in the etiopathogenesis of AD, particularly as a factor in cognitive decline and perturbed conscious awareness commonly observed in patients with AD.
Pooled results of our meta-analysis indicated CHAT rs2177369 polymorphism was correlated with decreasing AD risk in one of five genetic models (dominant: OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62-0.96), while rs3810950 mutant was associated with AD development in three models (allelic: OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01-1.37, homozygous: OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.09-2.42, and recessive: OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.20-2.26).
Stratification by the presence of the APOE ε4 allele showed that rs3810950 AG/non-APOE ε4 carriers and rs3810950 AA/APOE ε4 carriers were associated with a lower cognitive composite score in younger elderly 73-83 years of age, similar to previous reports of association with AD.
Nominal allelic and genotypic associations with AD r</span>isk in the cross-sectional VITA sample were found for rs3810950 (p = 0.038 for genotype, OR = 1.66 95% CI 1.03-2.68, p = 0.052 allele-wise).