Implementing a National Biobank of Genetic, Sporadic and Prodromic Parkinson's Disease With Whole Genome Analysis and Functional Assessment of Polygenic Inheritance by iPSC Technology
The genetic complexity and heterogeneity of the sporadic forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are posing a formidable challenge to disentangle their direct molecular causes. To advance this research, we plan to coordinate our local biorepositories of PD biological specimens creating a standardized and integrated national resource. In this framework, we plan to collect more samples from additional sporadic PD cases and to extend the sampling to patients with REM sleep behavior disease. We plan a large campaign of whole genome sequencing including about 200 patients to identify rare genomic variants plausibly associated with these diseases. In addition, we will standardize the generation and quality control of iPSC lines to make available to the scientific community. Finally, we will combine iPSC technology and gene editing to functionally assess the relative impact of rare variants in coding regions inherited together as a polygenic trait previously identified in selected sporadic PD cases
• Presence of at least 2 of the 4 cardinal signs (tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, onset asymmetric) one of which must be tremor or bradykinesia;
• Absence of atypical symptoms such as: i) early postural instability, freezing phenomena, cognitive impairment, hallucinations, pathological involuntary movements, vertical gaze paralysis; ii) confirmed causes of secondary parkinsonism (focal lesions, drugs, substances toxic);
• Documented response to L-dopa or dopamine agonist use (or lack of adequate therapeutic attempt with L-dopa or dopamine agonists).
⁃ • Subjects affected by idiopathic RBD that will be selected according to the most recent criteria international classification of sleep disorders (ICSD-3).