Meta-analysis of the association between urokinase-plasminogen activator gene rs2227564 polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE

The association between urokinase-plasminogen activator (PLAU) gene rs2227564 polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk has been widely reported across different ethnic populations, with inconsistent results. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between PLAU rs2227564 polymorphism and AD risk.

METHODS

Fixed or random effect model was used as the pooling method to assess the basis of homogeneity test among studies. Summarized estimation of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using Q test and I (2). Publication bias was estimated using Harbord's test.

RESULTS

A total of 27 studies (comprising 6100 AD cases and 5718 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. The present meta-analysis showed a significant increased effect of T allele on risk of AD in dominant model (fixed effect model [FEM] OR 1.123, 95% CI 1.025-1.231) and heterozygote comparison (CT vs CC; FEM OR 1.126, 95% CI 1.027-1.235). No publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis showed that T allele of rs2227564 polymorphism in PLAU gene could increase the effects on risk of AD, and this result needs to be confirmed by further studies.