1.
Ann Neurol
; 70(1): 170-5, 2011 Jul.
Artículo
en Inglés
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21710629
RESUMEN
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a frequent sleep disorder that is linked to disturbed iron homeostasis. Genetic studies identified MEIS1 as an RLS-predisposing gene, where the RLS risk haplotype is associated with decreased MEIS1 mRNA and protein expression. We show here that RNA interference treatment of the MEIS1 worm orthologue increases ferritin expression in Caenorhabditis elegans and that the RLS-associated haplotype leads to increased expression of ferritin and DMT1 in RLS brain tissues. Additionally, human cells cultured under iron-deficient conditions show reduced MEIS1 expression. Our data establish a link between the RLS MEIS1 gene and iron metabolism.