Ratio of transcription factor PHF10 splice variants in lymphocytes as a molecular marker of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and causes degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal system of the brain. PHF10 is one of the most important regulatory subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling protein complex, which controls the gene function and chromatin state in neurons. Two alternative RHF10 isoforms, PHF10-P and PHF10-S, replace each other in the complex to change the target gene pattern. Expression of the PHF10 -P and PHF10 -S transcripts in the nigrostriatal system and their ratio in blood lymphocytes were found to change in a mouse model of early clinical stage of PD as compared with control mice. Changes in PHF10 -S level were also observed in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with early clinical stage of PD. A ratio of the PHF10 -P and PHF10 -S transcripts in peripheral blood cells was assumed to provide a potential marker of early stage PD.