Association between NMDA receptor subunit 2b gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease in Chinese Han population in Shanghai

Objective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor has been indicated to be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The NMDA receptor subunit 2b (NR2B) has attracted more attention due to its characteristic distribution and selective reduction in AD brain. The present study aimed to explore the association between NMDA gene polymorphism and AD. Methods A total of 63 AD patients and 68 normal controls in Shanghai city were employed in this study. Genotype of C2664T variant (rs1806201) in the exon13 of GRIN2B gene was determined by gene sequencing. Results Among AD patients, 15 (23.6%) subjects were identified as C/C genotype, and 35 (55.6%) were identified as C/T genotype. The left 13 (20.6%) subjects were identified as T/T genotype. In normal controls, 15 (22.1%) subjects were identified as C/C genotype, 39 (57.4%) as C/T genotype and 14 (20.6%) as T/T genotype. The distribution frequency of neither GRIN2B C2664T genotype (P=0.895) nor allele (P=0.790) was significantly different between AD patients and normal controls, even when the subjects were stratified by gender and age of disease onset in AD patients. Conclusion The results suggest that there is no relation between GRIN2B C2664T polymorphism and AD in Chinese Han population of Shanghai City.