Searching for RNA-markers of early clinical stages of Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder with a long latent period, necessitating the search for genes and mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis at the earliest stages (ES). The aim of this study was to investigate changes in gene expression at the transcriptome level in PD and to identify novel biomarkers of early-stage disease. A whole-transcriptome analysis of peripheral blood from monozygotic twins discordant for PD was performed, followed by real-time PCR validation of the results. In the blood of twins with PD, altered expression of three genes associated with circadian rhythms – PTGDS, ADORA2A, and MTA1 – was demonstrated. Expression analysis of individual candidate genes was also conducted in the peripheral blood of early-stage PD patients. This analysis revealed a significant and PD-specific alteration in the expression of MTA1, HNMT, NSF, PTGS2, and LRRN3 genes in early-stage PD patients. These genes may be involved in the pathogenesis of PD and may also be considered as potential biomarkers for early-stage PD.

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