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Guo S, Yang J. Bayesian genome-wide TWAS with reference transcriptomic data of brain and blood tissues identified 141 risk genes for Alzheimer's disease dementia. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:120. [PMID: 38824563 PMCID: PMC11144322 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01488-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) is an influential tool for identifying genes associated with complex diseases whose genetic effects are likely mediated through transcriptome. TWAS utilizes reference genetic and transcriptomic data to estimate effect sizes of genetic variants on gene expression (i.e., effect sizes of a broad sense of expression quantitative trait loci, eQTL). These estimated effect sizes are employed as variant weights in gene-based association tests, facilitating the mapping of risk genes with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. However, most existing TWAS of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia are limited to studying only cis-eQTL proximal to the test gene. To overcome this limitation, we applied the Bayesian Genome-wide TWAS (BGW-TWAS) method to leveraging both cis- and trans- eQTL of brain and blood tissues, in order to enhance mapping risk genes for AD dementia. METHODS We first applied BGW-TWAS to the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) V8 dataset to estimate cis- and trans- eQTL effect sizes of the prefrontal cortex, cortex, and whole blood tissues. Estimated eQTL effect sizes were integrated with the summary data of the most recent GWAS of AD dementia to obtain BGW-TWAS (i.e., gene-based association test) p-values of AD dementia per gene per tissue type. Then we used the aggregated Cauchy association test to combine TWAS p-values across three tissues to obtain omnibus TWAS p-values per gene. RESULTS We identified 85 significant genes in prefrontal cortex, 82 in cortex, and 76 in whole blood that were significantly associated with AD dementia. By combining BGW-TWAS p-values across these three tissues, we obtained 141 significant risk genes including 34 genes primarily due to trans-eQTL and 35 mapped risk genes in GWAS Catalog. With these 141 significant risk genes, we detected functional clusters comprised of both known mapped GWAS risk genes of AD in GWAS Catalog and our identified TWAS risk genes by protein-protein interaction network analysis, as well as several enriched phenotypes related to AD. CONCLUSION We applied BGW-TWAS and aggregated Cauchy test methods to integrate both cis- and trans- eQTL data of brain and blood tissues with GWAS summary data, identifying 141 TWAS risk genes of AD dementia. These identified risk genes provide novel insights into the underlying biological mechanisms of AD dementia and potential gene targets for therapeutics development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Guo
- Center for Computational and Quantitative Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jingjing Yang
- Center for Computational and Quantitative Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Lazarev D, Chau G, Bloemendal A, Churchhouse C, Neale BM. GUIDE deconstructs genetic architectures using association studies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.03.592285. [PMID: 38766146 PMCID: PMC11100597 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.03.592285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have revealed that the genetic architecture of most complex traits is characterized by a large number of distinct effects scattered across the genome. Functional enrichment analyses of these results suggest that the associations for any given complex trait are not purely random. Thus, we set out to leverage the genetic association results from many traits with a view to identifying the set of modules, or latent factors, that mediate these associations. The identification of such modules may aid in disease classification as well as the elucidation of complex disease mechanisms. We propose a method, Genetic Unmixing by Independent Decomposition (GUIDE), to estimate a set of statistically independent latent factors that best express the patterns of association across many traits. The resulting latent factors not only have desirable mathematical properties, such as sparsity and a higher variance explained (for both traits and variants), but are also able to single out and prioritize key biological features or pathophysiological mechanisms underlying a given trait or disease. Moreover, we show that these latent factors can index biological pathways as well as epidemiological and environmental influences that compose the genetic architecture of complex traits.
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Eulalio T, Sun MW, Gevaert O, Greicius MD, Montine TJ, Nachun D, Montgomery SB. regionalpcs: improved discovery of DNA methylation associations with complex traits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.01.590171. [PMID: 38746367 PMCID: PMC11092597 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.01.590171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
We have developed the regional principal components (rPCs) method, a novel approach for summarizing gene-level methylation. rPCs address the challenge of deciphering complex epigenetic mechanisms in diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). In contrast to traditional averaging, rPCs leverage principal components analysis to capture complex methylation patterns across gene regions. Our method demonstrated a 54% improvement in sensitivity over averaging in simulations, offering a robust framework for identifying subtle epigenetic variations. Applying rPCs to the AD brain methylation data in ROSMAP, combined with cell type deconvolution, we uncovered 838 differentially methylated genes associated with neuritic plaque burden-significantly outperforming conventional methods. Integrating methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTL) with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 17 genes with potential causal roles in AD, including MS4A4A and PICALM. Our approach is available in the Bioconductor package regionalpcs, opening avenues for research and facilitating a deeper understanding of the epigenetic landscape in complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Eulalio
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Min Woo Sun
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Olivier Gevaert
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Michael D Greicius
- Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Thomas J Montine
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Daniel Nachun
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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De Plano LM, Saitta A, Oddo S, Caccamo A. Epigenetic Changes in Alzheimer's Disease: DNA Methylation and Histone Modification. Cells 2024; 13:719. [PMID: 38667333 PMCID: PMC11049073 DOI: 10.3390/cells13080719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss, imposing a significant burden on affected individuals and their families. Despite the recent promising progress in therapeutic approaches, more needs to be done to understand the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of AD. Growing evidence points to epigenetic changes as playing a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The dynamic interplay between genetic and environmental factors influences the epigenetic landscape in AD, altering gene expression patterns associated with key pathological events associated with disease pathogenesis. To this end, epigenetic alterations not only impact the expression of genes implicated in AD pathogenesis but also contribute to the dysregulation of crucial cellular processes, including synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Understanding the complex epigenetic mechanisms in AD provides new avenues for therapeutic interventions. This review comprehensively examines the role of DNA methylation and histone modifications in the context of AD. It aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of AD pathogenesis and facilitate the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Maria De Plano
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.S.); (S.O.)
| | | | | | - Antonella Caccamo
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.S.); (S.O.)
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Yoon BW, Lee Y, Seo JH. Potential Causal Association between C-Reactive Protein Levels in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Biomedicines 2024; 12:807. [PMID: 38672162 PMCID: PMC11047998 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Researchers have proposed a possible correlation between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and inflammation or C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. We investigated the potential causal relationship between CRP levels and AMD. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with CRP exposure were selected as the instrumental variables (IVs) with significance (p < 5 × 10-8) from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis data of Biobank Japan and the UK Biobank. GWAS data for AMD were obtained from 11 International AMD Genomics Consortium studies. An evaluation of causal estimates, utilizing the inverse-variance-weighted (IVW), weighted-median, MR-Egger, MR-Pleiotropy-Residual-Sum, and Outlier tests, was conducted in a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. We observed significant causal associations between CRP levels and AMD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, 95% CI = [1.02-1.24], and p = 0.014 in IVW; OR = 1.18, 95% CI = [1.00-1.38], and p = 0.044 in weight median; OR = 1.31, 95% CI = [1.13-1.52], and p < 0.001 in MR-Egger). The causal relationship between CRP and AMD warrants further research to address the significance of inflammation as a risk factor for AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung Woo Yoon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Gwangmyung Hospital, Gwangmyung 14353, Republic of Korea;
- College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Lee
- Department of Applied Statistics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea;
- Veterans Medical Research Institute, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul 05368, Republic of Korea
| | - Je Hyun Seo
- Veterans Medical Research Institute, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul 05368, Republic of Korea
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Kulminski AM, Jain‐Washburn E, Philipp I, Loika Y, Loiko E, Culminskaya I. TOMM40 and APOC1 variants differentiate the impacts of the APOE ε4 allele on Alzheimer's disease risk across sexes, ages, and ancestries. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 16:e12600. [PMID: 38912305 PMCID: PMC11193136 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The variability in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4-attributed susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD) across ancestries, sexes, and ages may stem from the modulating effects of other genetic variants. METHODS We examined associations of compound genotypes (CompGs) comprising the ε4-encoding rs429358, TOMM40 rs2075650, and APOC1 rs12721046 polymorphisms with AD in White (7181/16,356 AD-affected/unaffected), Hispanic/Latino (2305/2921), and Black American (547/1753) participants across sexes and ages. RESULTS The absence and presence of the rs2075650 and/or rs12721046 minor alleles in the ε4-bearing CompGs define lower- and higher-AD-risk profiles, respectively, in White participants. They differentially impact AD risks in men and women of different ancestries, exhibiting an increasing, decreasing, flat, and nonlinear-with lower risks at ages younger than 65/70 years and older than 85 years compared to the ages in between-patterns across ages. DISCUSSION The ε4-bearing CompGs have a potential to differentiate biological mechanisms of sex-, age-, and ancestry-specific AD risks and serve as AD biomarkers. Highlights Younger White women carrying the lower-risk (LR) CompG are at small risk of AD.Black carriers of the LR CompG are at negligible risk of AD at 85 years and older.The higher-risk (HR) CompGs confer high AD risk in Whites and Blacks at 70 to 85 years.AD risk decreases with age for Hispanic/Lation women carrying the HR CompGs.Hispanic/Lation carriers of the LR CompG but not HR CompGs have higher AD risk than Blacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M. Kulminski
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research Institute, Duke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Ethan Jain‐Washburn
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research Institute, Duke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Ian Philipp
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research Institute, Duke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Yury Loika
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research Institute, Duke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Elena Loiko
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research Institute, Duke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Irina Culminskaya
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research Institute, Duke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
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Ma Y, Reyes-Dumeyer D, Piriz A, Recio P, Mejia DR, Medrano M, Lantigua RA, Vonsattel JPG, Tosto G, Teich AF, Ciener B, Leskinen S, Sivakumar S, DeTure M, Ranjan D, Dickson D, Murray M, Lee E, Wolk DA, Jin LW, Dugger BN, Hiniker A, Rissman RA, Mayeux R, Vardarajan BN. Multi-omics Characterization of Epigenetic and Genetic Risk of Alzheimer Disease in Autopsied Brains from two Ethnic Groups. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.02.12.24302533. [PMID: 38405911 PMCID: PMC10889011 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.12.24302533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Background Both genetic variants and epigenetic features contribute to the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied the AD association of CpG-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (CGS), which act as the hub of both the genetic and epigenetic effects, in Hispanics decedents and generalized the findings to Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) decedents. Methods First, we derived the dosage of the CpG site-creating allele of multiple CGSes in each 1 KB window across the genome and we conducted a sliding window association test with clinical diagnosis of AD in 7,155 Hispanics (3,194 cases and 3,961 controls) using generalized linear mixed models with the adjustment of age, sex, population structure, genomic relationship matrix, and genotyping batches. Next, using methylation and bulk RNA-sequencing data from the dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex in 150 Hispanics brains, we tested the cis- and trans-effects of AD associated CGS on brain DNA methylation to mRNA expression. For the genes with significant cis- and trans-effects, we checked their enriched pathways. Results We identified six genetic loci in Hispanics with CGS dosage associated with AD at genome-wide significance levels: ADAM20 (Score=55.2, P= 4.06×10 -8 ), between VRTN (Score=-19.6, P= 1.47×10 -8 ) and SYNDIG1L (Score=-37.7, P= 2.25×10 -9 ), SPG7 (16q24.3) (Score=40.5, P= 2.23×10 -8 ), PVRL2 (Score=125.86, P= 1.64×10 -9 ), TOMM40 (Score=-18.58, P= 4.61×10 -8 ), and APOE (Score=75.12, P= 7.26×10 -26 ). CGSes in PVRL2 and APOE were also genome-wide significant in NHW. Except for ADAM20 , CGSes in all the other five loci were associated with Hispanic brain methylation levels (mQTLs) and CGSes in SPG7, PVRL2, and APOE were also mQTLs in NHW. Except for SYNDIG1L ( P =0.08), brain methylation levels in all the other five loci affected downstream RNA expression in the Hispanics ( P <0.05), and methylation at VRTN and TOMM40 were also associated with RNA expression in NHW. Gene expression in these six loci were also regulated by CpG sites in genes that were enriched in the neuron projection and synapse (FDR<0.05). Conclusions We identified six CpG associated genetic loci associated with AD in Hispanics, harboring both genetic and epigenetic risks. However, their downstream effects on mRNA expression maybe ethnic specific and different from NHW.
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Nohesara S, Abdolmaleky HM, Thiagalingam S, Zhou JR. Gut microbiota defined epigenomes of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases reveal novel targets for therapy. Epigenomics 2024; 16:57-77. [PMID: 38088063 PMCID: PMC10804213 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The origins of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) involve genetic mutations, epigenetic changes, neurotoxin exposure and gut microbiota dysregulation. The gut microbiota's dynamic composition and its metabolites influence intestinal and blood-brain barrier integrity, contributing to AD and PD development. This review explores protein misfolding, aggregation and epigenetic links in AD and PD pathogenesis. It also highlights the role of a leaky gut and the microbiota-gut-brain axis in promoting these diseases through inflammation-induced epigenetic alterations. In addition, we investigate the potential of diet, probiotics and microbiota transplantation for preventing and treating AD and PD via epigenetic modifications, along with a discussion related to current challenges and future considerations. These approaches offer promise for translating research findings into practical clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Nohesara
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Hamid Mostafavi Abdolmaleky
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Surgery, Nutrition/Metabolism laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boson, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sam Thiagalingam
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jin-Rong Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Nutrition/Metabolism laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boson, MA 02215, USA
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Lozupone M, Dibello V, Sardone R, Castellana F, Zupo R, Lampignano L, Bortone I, Daniele A, Bellomo A, Solfrizzi V, Panza F. The Impact of Apolipoprotein E ( APOE) Epigenetics on Aging and Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1529. [PMID: 38132357 PMCID: PMC10740847 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) derives from an interplay among environmental factors and genetic variants, while epigenetic modifications have been expected to affect the onset and progression of its complex etiopathology. Carriers of one copy of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) ε4 allele have a 4-fold increased AD risk, while APOE ε4/ε4-carriers have a 12-fold increased risk of developing AD in comparison with the APOE ε3-carriers. The main longevity factor is the homozygous APOE ε3/ε3 genotype. In the present narrative review article, we summarized and described the role of APOE epigenetics in aging and AD pathophysiology. It is not fully understood how APOE variants may increase or decrease AD risk, but this gene may affect tau- and amyloid-mediated neurodegeneration directly or indirectly, also by affecting lipid metabolism and inflammation. For sporadic AD, epigenetic regulatory mechanisms may control and influence APOE expression in response to external insults. Diet, a major environmental factor, has been significantly associated with physical exercise, cognitive function, and the methylation level of several cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotide sites of APOE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madia Lozupone
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBrain), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy;
| | - Vittorio Dibello
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Rodolfo Sardone
- Local Healthcare Authority of Taranto, 74121 Taranto, Italy;
| | - Fabio Castellana
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Clinica Medica e Geriatria “Cesare Frugoni”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (R.Z.); (V.S.)
| | - Roberta Zupo
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Clinica Medica e Geriatria “Cesare Frugoni”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (R.Z.); (V.S.)
| | - Luisa Lampignano
- Local Healthcare Authority of Bari, ASL Bari, 70132 Bari, Italy;
| | - Ilaria Bortone
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBrain), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy;
| | - Antonio Daniele
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo Solfrizzi
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Clinica Medica e Geriatria “Cesare Frugoni”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (R.Z.); (V.S.)
| | - Francesco Panza
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Clinica Medica e Geriatria “Cesare Frugoni”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (R.Z.); (V.S.)
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Acha B, Corroza J, Sánchez-Ruiz de Gordoa J, Cabello C, Robles M, Méndez-López I, Macías M, Zueco S, Roldan M, Urdánoz-Casado A, Jericó I, Erro ME, Alcolea D, Lleo A, Blanco-Luquin I, Mendioroz M. Association of Blood-Based DNA Methylation Markers With Late-Onset Alzheimer Disease: A Potential Diagnostic Approach. Neurology 2023; 101:e2434-e2447. [PMID: 37827850 PMCID: PMC10752644 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000207865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES There is an urgent need to identify novel noninvasive biomarkers for Alzheimer disease (AD) diagnosis. Recent advances in blood-based measurements of phosphorylated tau (pTau) species are promising but still insufficient to address clinical needs. Epigenetics has been shown to be helpful to better understand AD pathogenesis. Epigenetic biomarkers have been successfully implemented in other medical disciplines, such as oncology. The objective of this study was to explore the diagnostic accuracy of a blood-based DNA methylation marker panel as a noninvasive tool to identify patients with late-onset Alzheimer compared with age-matched controls. METHODS A case-control study was performed. Blood DNA methylation levels at 46 cytosine-guanine sites (21 genes selected after a comprehensive literature search) were measured by bisulfite pyrosequencing in patients with "probable AD dementia" following National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association guidelines (2011) and age-matched and sex-matched controls recruited at Neurology Department-University Hospital of Navarre, Spain, selected by convenience sampling. Plasma pTau181 levels were determined by Simoa technology. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the optimal model to discriminate patients with AD from controls. Furthermore, we performed a stratified analysis by sex. RESULTS The final study cohort consisted of 80 patients with AD (age: median [interquartile range] 79 [11] years; 58.8% female) and 100 cognitively healthy controls (age 77 [10] years; 58% female). A panel including DNA methylation levels at NXN, ABCA7, and HOXA3 genes and plasma pTau181 significantly improved (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.97) the diagnostic performance of a single pTau181-based model, adjusted for age, sex, and APOE ɛ4 genotype. The sensitivity and specificity of this panel were 83.30% and 90.00%, respectively. After sex-stratified analysis, HOXA3 DNA methylation levels showed consistent association with AD. DISCUSSION These results highlight the potential translational value of blood-based DNA methylation biomarkers for noninvasive diagnosis of AD. REGISTRATION INFORMATION Research Ethics Committee of the University Hospital of Navarre (PI17/02218).
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Acha
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jon Corroza
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Sánchez-Ruiz de Gordoa
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Cabello
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maitane Robles
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Iván Méndez-López
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica Macías
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Zueco
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miren Roldan
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Amaya Urdánoz-Casado
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivonne Jericó
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Elena Erro
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Alcolea
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Lleo
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Idoia Blanco-Luquin
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maite Mendioroz
- From the Navarrabiomed (B.A., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., M. Robles, I.M.-L., M.M., S.Z., M. Roldan, A.U.-C., I.J., M.E.E., I.B.-L., M.M.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA); Departments of Neurology (J.C., J.S.-R.d.G., C.C., I.J., M.E.E., M.M.) and Internal Medicine (I.M.-L.), Hospital Universitario de Navarra-IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Pamplona; Department of Neurology (D.A., A.L.), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalunya; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (D.A., A.L.), CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain.
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11
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Gamache J, Gingerich D, Shwab EK, Barrera J, Garrett ME, Hume C, Crawford GE, Ashley-Koch AE, Chiba-Falek O. Integrative single-nucleus multi-omics analysis prioritizes candidate cis and trans regulatory networks and their target genes in Alzheimer's disease brains. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:185. [PMID: 37789374 PMCID: PMC10546724 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01120-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genetic underpinnings of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) are yet to be fully elucidated. Although numerous LOAD-associated loci have been discovered, the causal variants and their target genes remain largely unknown. Since the brain is composed of heterogenous cell subtypes, it is imperative to study the brain on a cell subtype specific level to explore the biological processes underlying LOAD. METHODS Here, we present the largest parallel single-nucleus (sn) multi-omics study to simultaneously profile gene expression (snRNA-seq) and chromatin accessibility (snATAC-seq) to date, using nuclei from 12 normal and 12 LOAD brains. We identified cell subtype clusters based on gene expression and chromatin accessibility profiles and characterized cell subtype-specific LOAD-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially accessible peaks (DAPs) and cis co-accessibility networks (CCANs). RESULTS Integrative analysis defined disease-relevant CCANs in multiple cell subtypes and discovered LOAD-associated cell subtype-specific candidate cis regulatory elements (cCREs), their candidate target genes, and trans-interacting transcription factors (TFs), some of which, including ELK1, JUN, and SMAD4 in excitatory neurons, were also LOAD-DEGs. Finally, we focused on a subset of cell subtype-specific CCANs that overlap known LOAD-GWAS regions and catalogued putative functional SNPs changing the affinities of TF motifs within LOAD-cCREs linked to LOAD-DEGs, including APOE and MYO1E in a specific subtype of microglia and BIN1 in a subpopulation of oligodendrocytes. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this study represents the most comprehensive systematic interrogation to date of regulatory networks and the impact of genetic variants on gene dysregulation in LOAD at a cell subtype resolution. Our findings reveal crosstalk between epigenetic, genomic, and transcriptomic determinants of LOAD pathogenesis and define catalogues of candidate genes, cCREs, and variants involved in LOAD genetic etiology and the cell subtypes in which they act to exert their pathogenic effects. Overall, these results suggest that cell subtype-specific cis-trans interactions between regulatory elements and TFs, and the genes dysregulated by these networks contribute to the development of LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Gamache
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Daniel Gingerich
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - E Keats Shwab
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Julio Barrera
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Melanie E Garrett
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 104775, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Cordelia Hume
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Gregory E Crawford
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3382, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
| | - Allison E Ashley-Koch
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 104775, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2900, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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Wang YH, Luo PP, Geng AY, Li X, Liu TH, He YJ, Huang L, Tang YQ. Identification of highly reliable risk genes for Alzheimer's disease through joint-tissue integrative analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1183119. [PMID: 37416324 PMCID: PMC10320295 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1183119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous genetic variants associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), but their interpretation is hindered by the strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) among the variants, making it difficult to identify the causal variants directly. To address this issue, the transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) was employed to infer the association between gene expression and a trait at the genetic level using expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) cohorts. In this study, we applied the TWAS theory and utilized the improved Joint-Tissue Imputation (JTI) approach and Mendelian Randomization (MR) framework (MR-JTI) to identify potential AD-associated genes. By integrating LD score, GTEx eQTL data, and GWAS summary statistic data from a large cohort using MR-JTI, a total of 415 AD-associated genes were identified. Then, 2873 differentially expressed genes from 11 AD-related datasets were used for the Fisher test of these AD-associated genes. We finally obtained 36 highly reliable AD-associated genes, including APOC1, CR1, ERBB2, and RIN3. Moreover, the GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that these genes are primarily involved in antigen processing and presentation, amyloid-beta formation, tau protein binding, and response to oxidative stress. The identification of these potential AD-associated genes not only provides insights into the pathogenesis of AD but also offers biomarkers for early diagnosis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Heng Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pan Pan Luo
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ao Yi Geng
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinwei Li
- School of Microelectronics and Communication Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tai-Hang Liu
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Jie He
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Huang
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ya Qin Tang
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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13
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Jing Z, Zhang H, Wen Y, Cui S, Ren Y, Liu R, Duan S, Zhao W, Fan L. Epigenetic and transcriptomic alterations in the ClC-3-deficient mice consuming a normal diet. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1196684. [PMID: 37287451 PMCID: PMC10242048 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1196684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Metabolic disorders are an important health concern that threatens life and burdens society severely. ClC-3 is a member of the chloride voltage-gated channel family, and ClC-3 deletion improved the phenotypes of dysglycemic metabolism and the impairment of insulin sensitivity. However, the effects of a healthy diet on transcriptome and epigenetics in ClC-3-/- mice were not explained in detail. Methods: Here, we performed transcriptome sequencing and Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing for the liver of 3 weeks old WT and ClC-3-/- mice consuming a normal diet to insight into the epigenetic and transcriptomic alterations of ClC-3 deficient mice. Results: In the present study, we found that ClC-3-/- mice that were younger than 8 weeks old had smaller bodies compared to ClC-3+/+ mice with ad libitum self-feeding normal diet, and ClC-3-/- mice that were older than 10 weeks old had a similar body weight. Except for the spleen, lung, and kidney, the average weight of the heart, liver, and brain in ClC-3-/- mice was lower than that in ClC-3+/+ mice. TG, TC, HDL, and LDL in fasting ClC-3-/- mice were not significantly different from those in ClC-3+/+ mice. Fasting blood glucose in ClC-3-/- mice was lower than that in ClC-3+/+ mice; the glucose tolerance test indicated the response to blood glucose increasing for ClC-3-/- mice was torpid, but the efficiency of lowering blood glucose was much higher once started. Transcriptomic sequencing and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing for the liver of unweaned mice indicated that ClC-3 deletion significantly changed transcriptional expression and DNA methylation levels of glucose metabolism-related genes. A total of 92 genes were intersected between DEGs and DMRs-targeted genes, of which Nos3, Pik3r1, Socs1, and Acly were gathered in type II diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, and metabolic pathways. Moreover, Pik3r1 and Acly expressions were obviously correlated with DNA methylation levels, not Nos3 and Socs1. However, the transcriptional levels of these four genes were not different between ClC-3-/- and ClC-3+/+ mice at the age of 12 weeks. Discussion: ClC-3 influenced the methylated modification to regulate glucose metabolism, of which the gene expressions could be driven to change again by a personalized diet-style intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghui Jing
- Department of Pathology of Basic Medicine College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Department of Pathology of Basic Medicine College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yunjie Wen
- Guangzhou Huayin Medical Laboratory Center Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shiyu Cui
- Department of Pathology of Basic Medicine College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuhua Ren
- Department of Pathology of Basic Medicine College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rong Liu
- Department of Pathology of Basic Medicine College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Sirui Duan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenbao Zhao
- Department of Pathology of Basic Medicine College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Lihong Fan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
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Peng X, Zhang W, Cui W, Ding B, Lyu Q, Wang J. ADmeth: A Manually Curated Database for the Differential Methylation in Alzheimer's Disease. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 20:843-851. [PMID: 35617175 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2022.3178087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease. More and more evidence show that DNA methylation is closely related to the pathological mechanism of AD. Many AD-associated differentially methylated genes, regions and CpG sites have been identified in recent researches, which may have great potential in clinical research. However, there is no dedicated database to collect AD-related differential methylation up to now. To provide a reference to researchers, we design a database named ADmeth by manually curating relevant articles, which contains a total of 16,709 AD-related differentially methylated items identified from different brain regions and different cell types in the blood, involving 209 genes, 2,229 regions and 14,271 CpG sites. The ADmeth database provides user-friendly pages to search, submit and download data. We hope that the ADmeth database can facilitate researchers to select candidate AD-associated methylation markers in revealing the pathological mechanism of AD and promote the cell-free DNA based non-invasive diagnosis of AD. The ADmeth database is available at http://www.biobdlab.cn/ADmeth.
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15
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Abraham Daniel A, Silzer T, Sun J, Zhou Z, Hall C, Phillips N, Barber R. Hypermethylation at CREBBP Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in a Mexican American Cohort. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 92:1229-1239. [PMID: 36872777 PMCID: PMC10200223 DOI: 10.3233/jad-221031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aging Mexican American (MA) population is the fastest growing ethnic minority group in the US. MAs have a unique metabolic-related risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHW). This risk for cognitive impairment (CI) is multifactorial involving genetics, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Changes in environment and lifestyle can alter patterns and even possibly reverse derangement of DNA methylation (a form of epigenetic regulation). OBJECTIVE We sought to identify ethnicity-specific DNA methylation profiles that may be associated with CI in MAs and NHWs. METHODS DNA obtained from peripheral blood of 551 participants from the Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium was typed on the Illumina Infinium® MethylationEPIC chip array, which assesses over 850K CpG genomic sites. Within each ethnic group (N = 299 MAs, N = 252 NHWs), participants were stratified by cognitive status (control versus CI). Beta values, representing relative degree of methylation, were normalized using the Beta MIxture Quantile dilation method and assessed for differential methylation using the Chip Analysis Methylation Pipeline (ChAMP), limma and cate packages in R. RESULTS Two differentially methylated sites were significant: cg13135255 (MAs) and cg27002303 (NHWs) based on an FDR p < 0.05. Three suggestive sites obtained were cg01887506 (MAs) and cg10607142 and cg13529380 (NHWs). Most methylation sites were hypermethylated in CI compared to controls, except cg13529380 which was hypomethylated. CONCLUSION The strongest association with CI was at cg13135255 (FDR-adjusted p = 0.029 in MAs), within the CREBBP gene. Moving forward, identifying additional ethnicity-specific methylation sites may be useful to discern CI risk in MAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Abraham Daniel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Talisa Silzer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Jie Sun
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Zhengyang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Courtney Hall
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Nicole Phillips
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Robert Barber
- Department of Family and Manipulative Medicine, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
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16
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Gottschalk WK, Mahon S, Hodgson D, Barrera J, Hill D, Wei A, Kumar M, Dai K, Anderson L, Mihovilovic M, Lutz MW, Chiba-Falek O. The APOE-TOMM40 Humanized Mouse Model: Characterization of Age, Sex, and PolyT Variant Effects on Gene Expression. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 94:1563-1576. [PMID: 37458041 PMCID: PMC10733864 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human chromosome 19q13.32 is a gene rich region and has been associated with multiple phenotypes, including late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and other age-related conditions. OBJECTIVE Here we developed the first humanized mouse model that contains the entire TOMM40 and APOE genes with all intronic and intergenic sequences including the upstream and downstream regions. Thus, the mouse model carries the human TOMM40 and APOE genes and their intact regulatory sequences. METHODS We generated the APOE-TOMM40 humanized mouse model in which the entire mouse region was replaced with the human (h)APOE-TOMM40 loci including their upstream and downstream flanking regulatory sequences using recombineering technologies. We then measured the expression of the human TOMM40 and APOE genes in the mice brain, liver, and spleen tissues using TaqMan based mRNA expression assays. RESULTS We investigated the effects of the '523' polyT genotype (S/S or VL/VL), sex, and age on the human TOMM40- and APOE-mRNAs expression levels using our new humanized mouse model. The analysis revealed tissue specific and shared effects of the '523' polyT genotype, sex, and age on the regulation of the human TOMM40 and APOE genes. Noteworthy, the regulatory effect of the '523' polyT genotype was observed for all studied organs. CONCLUSION The model offers new opportunities for basic science, translational, and preclinical drug discovery studies focused on the APOE genomic region in relation to LOAD and other conditions in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- William K. Gottschalk
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Scott Mahon
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dellila Hodgson
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Julio Barrera
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Delaney Hill
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Angela Wei
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Manish Kumar
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kathy Dai
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lauren Anderson
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mirta Mihovilovic
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michael W. Lutz
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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17
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Zhao J, Huai J. Role of primary aging hallmarks in Alzheimer´s disease. Theranostics 2023; 13:197-230. [PMID: 36593969 PMCID: PMC9800733 DOI: 10.7150/thno.79535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, which severely threatens the health of the elderly and causes significant economic and social burdens. The causes of AD are complex and include heritable but mostly aging-related factors. The primary aging hallmarks include genomic instability, telomere wear, epigenetic changes, and loss of protein stability, which play a dominant role in the aging process. Although AD is closely associated with the aging process, the underlying mechanisms involved in AD pathogenesis have not been well characterized. This review summarizes the available literature about primary aging hallmarks and their roles in AD pathogenesis. By analyzing published literature, we attempted to uncover the possible mechanisms of aberrant epigenetic markers with related enzymes, transcription factors, and loss of proteostasis in AD. In particular, the importance of oxidative stress-induced DNA methylation and DNA methylation-directed histone modifications and proteostasis are highlighted. A molecular network of gene regulatory elements that undergoes a dynamic change with age may underlie age-dependent AD pathogenesis, and can be used as a new drug target to treat AD.
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18
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The Role of Epigenetics in Neuroinflammatory-Driven Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315218. [PMID: 36499544 PMCID: PMC9740629 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by the progressive loss of central and/or peripheral nervous system neurons. Within this context, neuroinflammation comes up as one of the main factors linked to neurodegeneration progression. In fact, neuroinflammation has been recognized as an outstanding factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Interestingly, neuroinflammatory diseases are characterized by dramatic changes in the epigenetic profile, which might provide novel prognostic and therapeutic factors towards neuroinflammatory treatment. Deep changes in DNA and histone methylation, along with histone acetylation and altered non-coding RNA expression, have been reported at the onset of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this work is to review the current knowledge on this field.
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19
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Kulminski AM, Jain‐Washburn E, Philipp I, He L, Loika Y, Loiko E, Bagley O, Ukraintseva S, Yashin A, Arbeev K, Stallard E, Feitosa MF, Schupf N, Christensen K, Culminskaya I. APOE ɛ4 allele and TOMM40-APOC1 variants jointly contribute to survival to older ages. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13730. [PMID: 36330582 PMCID: PMC9741507 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related diseases characteristic of post-reproductive life, aging, and life span are the examples of polygenic non-Mendelian traits with intricate genetic architectures. Polygenicity of these traits implies that multiple variants can impact their risks independently or jointly as combinations of specific variants. Here, we examined chances to live to older ages, 85 years and older, for carriers of compound genotypes comprised of combinations of genotypes of rs429358 (APOE ɛ4 encoding polymorphism), rs2075650 (TOMM40), and rs12721046 (APOC1) polymorphisms using data from four human studies. The choice of these polymorphisms was motivated by our prior results showing that the ɛ4 carriers having minor alleles of the other two polymorphisms were at exceptionally high risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), compared with non-carriers of the minor alleles. Consistent with our prior findings for AD, we show here that the adverse effect of the ɛ4 allele on survival to older ages is significantly higher in carriers of minor alleles of rs2075650 and/or rs12721046 polymorphisms compared with their non-carriers. The exclusion of AD cases made this effect stronger. Our results provide compelling evidence that AD does not mediate the associations of the same compound genotypes with chances to survive until older ages, indicating the existence of genetically heterogeneous mechanisms. The survival chances can be mainly associated with lipid- and immunity-related mechanisms, whereas the AD risk, can be driven by the AD-biomarker-related mechanism, among others. Targeting heterogeneous polygenic profiles of individuals at high risks of complex traits is promising for the translation of genetic discoveries to health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M. Kulminski
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Ethan Jain‐Washburn
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Ian Philipp
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Liang He
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Yury Loika
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Elena Loiko
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Olivia Bagley
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Svetlana Ukraintseva
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Anatoliy Yashin
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Konstantin Arbeev
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Eric Stallard
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Mary F. Feitosa
- Division of Statistical Genomics, Department of GeneticsWashington University School of MedicineSt LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Nicole Schupf
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky CenterColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Unit of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public HealthSouthern Denmark UniversityOdenseDenmark
| | - Irina Culminskaya
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
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20
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Hajjo R, Sabbah DA, Abusara OH, Al Bawab AQ. A Review of the Recent Advances in Alzheimer's Disease Research and the Utilization of Network Biology Approaches for Prioritizing Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12122975. [PMID: 36552984 PMCID: PMC9777434 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12122975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a polygenic multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that, after decades of research and development, is still without a cure. There are some symptomatic treatments to manage the psychological symptoms but none of these drugs can halt disease progression. Additionally, over the last few years, many anti-AD drugs failed in late stages of clinical trials and many hypotheses surfaced to explain these failures, including the lack of clear understanding of disease pathways and processes. Recently, different epigenetic factors have been implicated in AD pathogenesis; thus, they could serve as promising AD diagnostic biomarkers. Additionally, network biology approaches have been suggested as effective tools to study AD on the systems level and discover multi-target-directed ligands as novel treatments for AD. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review on Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology to provide a better understanding of disease pathogenesis hypotheses and decipher the role of genetic and epigenetic factors in disease development and progression. We also provide an overview of disease biomarkers and drug targets and suggest network biology approaches as new tools for identifying novel biomarkers and drugs. We also posit that the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to mining Alzheimer's disease multi-omics data will facilitate drug and biomarker discovery efforts and lead to effective individualized anti-Alzheimer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Hajjo
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carlina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- National Center for Epidemics and Communicable Disease Control, Amman 11118, Jordan
- Correspondence:
| | - Dima A. Sabbah
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Osama H. Abusara
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Abdel Qader Al Bawab
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
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21
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Epigenetic Changes in Prion and Prion-like Neurodegenerative Diseases: Recent Advances, Potential as Biomarkers, and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012609. [PMID: 36293477 PMCID: PMC9604074 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) caused by a conformational conversion of the native cellular prion protein (PrPC) to an abnormal, infectious isoform called PrPSc. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases are also known as prion-like diseases because they share common features with prion diseases, including protein misfolding and aggregation, as well as the spread of these misfolded proteins into different brain regions. Increasing evidence proposes the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms, namely DNA methylation, post-translational modifications of histones, and microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in the pathogenesis of prion-like diseases. Little is known about the role of epigenetic modifications in prion diseases, but recent findings also point to a potential regulatory role of epigenetic mechanisms in the pathology of these diseases. This review highlights recent findings on epigenetic modifications in TSEs and prion-like diseases and discusses the potential role of such mechanisms in disease pathology and their use as potential biomarkers.
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22
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Nuytemans K, Vasquez ML, Wang L, Van Booven D, Griswold AJ, Rajabli F, Celis K, Oron O, Hofmann N, Rolati S, Garcia-Serje C, Zhang S, Jin F, Argenziano M, Grant SF, Chesi A, Brown CD, Young JI, Dykxhoorn DM, Pericak-Vance MA, Vance JM. Identifying differential regulatory control of APOE ɛ4 on African versus European haplotypes as potential therapeutic targets. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:1930-1942. [PMID: 34978147 PMCID: PMC9250552 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, European apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers express significantly more APOE ε4 in their brains than African AD carriers. We examined single nucleotide polymorphisms near APOE with significant frequency differences between African and European/Japanese APOE ε4 haplotypes that could contribute to this difference in expression through regulation. Two enhancer massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) approaches were performed, supplemented with single fragment reporter assays. We used Capture C analyses to support interactions with the APOE promoter. Introns within TOMM40 showed increased enhancer activity in the European/Japanese versus African haplotypes in astrocytes and microglia. This region overlaps with APOE promoter interactions as assessed by Capture C analysis. Single variant analyses pinpoints rs2075650/rs157581, and rs59007384 as functionally different on these haplotypes. Identification of the mechanisms for differential regulatory function for APOE expression between African and European/Japanese haplotypes could lead to therapeutic targets for APOE ε4 carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Nuytemans
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics,
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Marina Lipkin Vasquez
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Liyong Wang
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics,
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Derek Van Booven
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Anthony J. Griswold
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics,
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Farid Rajabli
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics,
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Katrina Celis
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Oded Oron
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Natalia Hofmann
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Sophie Rolati
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Catherine Garcia-Serje
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of
Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- The Biomedical Sciences Training Program (BSTP), School of
Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Fulai Jin
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of
Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Computer and Data Sciences, Case
Comprehensive Cancer Center Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio,
USA
| | | | - Struan F.A. Grant
- Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics,
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alessandra Chesi
- Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine,
University of PennsylvaniaPerelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
USA
| | - Christopher D. Brown
- Department of Genetics, University of
PennsylvaniaPerelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Juan I. Young
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics,
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Derek M. Dykxhoorn
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics,
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Margaret A. Pericak-Vance
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics,
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jeffery M. Vance
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics,
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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23
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Shen B, Hernandez DG, Chitrala KN, Fanelli-Kuczmarski MT, Noren Hooten N, Pacheco NL, Mode NA, Zonderman AB, Ezike N, Evans MK. APOE gene region methylation is associated with cognitive performance in middle-aged urban adults. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 116:41-48. [PMID: 35561457 PMCID: PMC10878469 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 allele is a strong risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognitive decline. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation (DNAm) play a central role in cognition. This study sought to identify DNAm sites in the APOE genomic region associated with cognitive performance in a racially diverse middle-aged cohort (n = 411). Cognitive performance was measured by 11 standard neuropsychological tests. Two CpG sites were associated with the Card Rotation and Benton Visual Retention cognitive tests. The methylation level of the CpG site cg00397545 was associated with Card Rotation Test score (p = 0.000177) and a novel CpG site cg10178308 was associated with Benton Visual Retention Test score (p = 0.000084). Significant associations were observed among the dietary inflammatory index, which reflects the inflammatory potential of the diet, cognitive performance and the methylation level of several CpG sites. Our results indicate that DNAm in the APOE genomic area is correlated with cognitive performance and may presage cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Botong Shen
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dena G Hernandez
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kumaraswamy Naidu Chitrala
- Fels Institute for Personalized Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marie T Fanelli-Kuczmarski
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicole Noren Hooten
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Natasha L Pacheco
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicolle A Mode
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alan B Zonderman
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ngozi Ezike
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michele K Evans
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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24
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Villa C, Stoccoro A. Epigenetic Peripheral Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081308. [PMID: 35893045 PMCID: PMC9332601 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and represents the leading cause of cognitive impairment and dementia in older individuals throughout the world. The main hallmarks of AD include brain atrophy, extracellular deposition of insoluble amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, and the intracellular aggregation of protein tau in neurofibrillary tangles. These pathological modifications start many years prior to clinical manifestations of disease and the spectrum of AD progresses along a continuum from preclinical to clinical phases. Therefore, identifying specific biomarkers for detecting AD at early stages greatly improves clinical management. However, stable and non-invasive biomarkers are not currently available for the early detection of the disease. In the search for more reliable biomarkers, epigenetic mechanisms, able to mediate the interaction between the genome and the environment, are emerging as important players in AD pathogenesis. Herein, we discuss altered epigenetic signatures in blood as potential peripheral biomarkers for the early detection of AD in order to help diagnosis and improve therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Villa
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-6448-8138
| | - Andrea Stoccoro
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Medical School, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
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Ereqat S, Cauchi S, Eweidat K, Elqadi M, Ghatass M, Sabarneh A, Nasereddin A. Association of DNA methylation and genetic variations of the APOE gene with the risk of diabetic dyslipidemia. Biomed Rep 2022; 17:61. [PMID: 35719839 PMCID: PMC9198989 DOI: 10.3892/br.2022.1544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a key regulator of lipoprotein metabolism, and consequently, affects the plasma and tissue lipid contents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the parallel effects of APOE genetic variants and promoter methylation levels of six CpGs on the risk of diabetic dyslipidemia. A total of 204 Palestinian type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients (mean age ± SD: 62.7±10.2) were enrolled in the present study (n=96 with dyslipidemia and n=108 without dyslipidemia). Next generation sequencing was performed to analyze five single nucleotide polymorphisms: Two variants rs7412 and rs429358 that determine APOE ε alleles, and three variants in the promoter region (rs769446, rs449647, and rs405509). For all subjects, the most common genotype was ε3/ε3 (79.4%). No statistical differences were observed in the APOE ε polymorphisms and the three promoter variants among T2D patients with and without dyslipidemia (P>0.05). A comparison of lipid parameters between ε3/ε3 subjects and ε4 carriers in both groups revealed no significant differences in the mean values of LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, and TC levels (P>0.05). Six CpG sites in the APOE promoter on chromosome 19:44905755-44906078 were identified, and differential DNA methylation in these CpGs were observed between the study groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association of DNA methylation level at the six CpGs with an increased risk of diabetic dyslipidemia (odds ratio, 1.038; 95% confidence interval, 1.012-1.064; P=0.004). In conclusion, the present study revealed that DNA methylation levels in six CpGs in the APOE promoter region was associated with the risk of diabetic dyslipidemia independently of the APOE ε4 variant which could be a potential therapeutic target to reverse the methylation of the APOE promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suheir Ereqat
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al‑Quds University, Abu Dis P144, Palestine
| | - Stéphane Cauchi
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientfique (CNRS), Unité Mixte de Recherche UMR8204 Lille, France
| | - Khaled Eweidat
- Faculty of Medicine, Al‑Quds University, East Jerusalem, Abu Dis P144, Palestine
| | - Muawiyah Elqadi
- Faculty of Medicine, Al‑Quds University, East Jerusalem, Abu Dis P144, Palestine
| | - Manal Ghatass
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al‑Quds University, Abu Dis P144, Palestine
| | - Anas Sabarneh
- Palestine Medical Complex, Laboratories Division, Ramallah P606, Palestine
| | - Abedelmajeed Nasereddin
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al‑Quds University, Abu Dis P144, Palestine
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Guemri J, Pierre-Jean M, Brohard S, Oussada N, Horgues C, Bonnet E, Mauger F, Deleuze JF. Methylated ccfDNA from plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease using targeted bisulfite sequencing. Epigenomics 2022; 14:451-468. [PMID: 35416052 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Noninvasive biomarkers such as methylated ccfDNA from plasma could help to support the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: A targeted sequencing protocol was developed to identify candidate biomarkers of AD in methylated ccfDNA extracted from plasma. Results: The authors identified differentially methylated CpGs, regions of which were the same as those identified in previous AD studies. Specifically, a differentially methylated CpG of the LHX2 gene previously identified in a plasma study of AD was replicated in the study. The MBP and DUSP22 regions have been identified in other brain studies of AD and in the authors' study. Conclusion: Although these biomarkers must be validated in other cohorts, methylated ccfDNA could be a relevant noninvasive biomarker in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Guemri
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry, 91057, France
| | - Morgane Pierre-Jean
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry, 91057, France
| | - Solène Brohard
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry, 91057, France
| | - Nouara Oussada
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry, 91057, France
| | - Caroline Horgues
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry, 91057, France
| | - Eric Bonnet
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry, 91057, France
| | - Florence Mauger
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry, 91057, France
| | - Jean-François Deleuze
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry, 91057, France
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Jiao B, Xiao X, Yuan Z, Guo L, Liao X, Zhou Y, Zhou L, Wang X, Liu X, Liu H, Jiang Y, Lin Z, Zhu Y, Yang Q, Zhang W, Li J, Shen L. Associations of risk genes with onset age and plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease: a large case-control study in mainland China. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1121-1127. [PMID: 35001095 PMCID: PMC8938514 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01258-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Most genetic studies concerning risk genes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are from Caucasian populations, whereas the data remain limited in the Chinese population. In this study, we systematically explored the relationship between AD and risk genes in mainland China. We sequenced 33 risk genes previously reported to be associated with AD in a total of 3604 individuals in the mainland Chinese population. Common variant (MAF ≥ 0.01) based association analysis and gene-based (MAF < 0.01) association test were performed by PLINK 1.9 and Sequence Kernel Association Test-Optimal, respectively. Polygenic risk score (PRS) was calculated, and receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was computed. Plasma Aβ42, Aβ40, total tau (T-tau), and neurofilament light chain (NFL) were tested in a subgroup, and their associations with PRS were conducted using the Spearman correlation test. Six common variants varied significantly between AD patients and cognitively normal controls after the adjustment of age, gender, and APOE ε4 status, including variants in ABCA7 (n = 5) and APOE (n = 1). Among them, four variants were novel and two were reported previously. The AUC of PRS was 0.71. The high PRS was significantly associated with an earlier age at onset (P = 4.30 × 10-4). PRS was correlated with plasma Aβ42, Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, T-tau, and NFL levels. Gene-based association test revealed that ABCA7 and UNC5C reached statistical significance. The common variants in APOE and ABCA7, as well as rare variants in ABCA7 and UNC5C, may contribute to the etiology of AD. Moreover, the PRS, to some extent, could predict the risk, onset age, and biological changes of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Jiao
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuewen Xiao
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhenhua Yuan
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lina Guo
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xinxin Liao
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yafang Zhou
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Zhou
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Wang
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xixi Liu
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hui Liu
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yaling Jiang
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhuojie Lin
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Zhu
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qijie Yang
- grid.452223.00000 0004 1757 7615Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China ,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jinchen Li
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China. .,Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China. .,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China. .,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China. .,Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
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Lv S, Zhou X, Li YM, Yang T, Zhang SJ, Wang Y, Jia SH, Peng DT. N6-methyladenine-modified DNA was decreased in Alzheimer’s disease patients. World J Clin Cases 2022; 10:448-457. [PMID: 35097069 PMCID: PMC8771380 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i2.448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has increased, which places a great burden on society and families and creates considerable challenges for medical services. N6-methyladenine (m6A) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) adenine methylation is a novel biomarker and is abundant in the brain, but less common in AD. We support to analyze the relationship between DNA m6A and cognition in patients with AD and normal controls (NCs) in China.
AIM To analyze the relationship between the novel m6A DNA and cognition in patients with AD and NCs in China.
METHODS A total of 179 AD patients (mean age 71.60 ± 9.89 years; males: 91; females: 88) and 147 NCs (mean age 69.59 ± 11.22 years; males: 77; females: 70) who were age- and sex-matched were included in our study. All subjects underwent neuropsychological scale assessment and magnetic resonance imaging examination. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes were measured through agarose gel electrophoresis. Global m6A levels were evaluated by a MethylFlash m6A DNA Methylation ELISA Kit (colorimetric). Global m6A levels in total DNA from ten AD patients with 18F-AV-45 (florbetapir) positron emission tomography (PET) positivity and ten NCs with PET negativity were analyzed by dot blotting to determine the results.
RESULTS Our ELISA results showed that the global m6A DNA levels in peripheral blood were different between patients with AD and NCs (P = 0.002; < 0.05). And ten AD patients who were PET positive and ten NCs who were PET negative also showed the same results through dot blotting. There were significant differences between the two groups, which indicated that the leukocyte m6A DNA levels were different (P = 0.005; < 0.05). The m6A level was approximately 8.33% lower in AD patients than in NCs (mean 0.011 ± 0.006 vs 0.012 ± 0.005). A significant correlation was found between the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score and the peripheral blood m6A level in the tested population (r = 0.143, P = 0.01; < 0.05). However, no relationship was found with APOE ε4 (P = 0.633, > 0.05). Further studies should be performed to validate these findings.
CONCLUSION Our results show that reduced global m6A DNA methylation levels are significantly lower in AD patients than in NCs by approximately 8.33% in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Lv
- Department of Neurology, Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiao Zhou
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yi-Ming Li
- Department of Cardiovascular, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Tao Yang
- Department of Geriatric, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Shu-Juan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Shu-Hong Jia
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Dan-Tao Peng
- Department of Neurology, Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
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Mc Auley MT. DNA methylation in genes associated with the evolution of ageing and disease: A critical review. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 72:101488. [PMID: 34662746 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ageing is characterised by a physical decline in biological functioning which results in a progressive risk of mortality with time. As a biological phenomenon, it is underpinned by the dysregulation of a myriad of complex processes. Recently, however, ever-increasing evidence has associated epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation (DNAm) with age-onset pathologies, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. These diseases compromise healthspan. Consequently, there is a medical imperative to understand the link between epigenetic ageing, and healthspan. Evolutionary theory provides a unique way to gain new insights into epigenetic ageing and health. This review will: (1) provide a brief overview of the main evolutionary theories of ageing; (2) discuss recent genetic evidence which has revealed alleles that have pleiotropic effects on fitness at different ages in humans; (3) consider the effects of DNAm on pleiotropic alleles, which are associated with age related disease; (4) discuss how age related DNAm changes resonate with the mutation accumulation, disposable soma and programmed theories of ageing; (5) discuss how DNAm changes associated with caloric restriction intersect with the evolution of ageing; and (6) conclude by discussing how evolutionary theory can be used to inform investigations which quantify age-related DNAm changes which are linked to age onset pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Tomás Mc Auley
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Chester, Exton Park, Chester CH1 4BJ, UK.
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Proteomic and metabolic profiling of chronic patients with schizophrenia induced by a physical activity program: Pilot study. REVISTA DE PSIQUIATRIA Y SALUD MENTAL 2021; 14:125-138. [PMID: 34384726 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsmen.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia is a chronic illness often accompanied by metabolic disorders, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular problems often associated with unhealthy lifestyles, as well as neuroendocrine problems caused by the disease itself. Lifestyle changes, such as regular physical exercise, have a positive effect on metabolic disorders and mental health, although the molecular changes that occur in this type of patient and how they explain the changes in their response are unknown. This study wants to analyze in a novel way the proteins and molecular pathways involved in critical plasmatic proteins in plasma to reveal the pathways involved in the implementation of physical exercise and the changes that occur among patients who participate in such programs with those who leave. METHODS Twenty-one patients with chronic schizophrenia underwent a daily, 6-month aerobic training program. We divided them into a group that completed the program (12 patients) and a second group that left the training program (9 patients). The biochemical and clinical data of each patient were analyzed and the proteomic profile of the plasma was studied using ESI-LC-MS/MS. RESULTS Proteomic analysis recognizes 21.165 proteins and peptides in each patient, of which we identified 1.812 proteins that varied between both groups linked to the metabolic and biological regulation pathways. After clinical analysis of each patient we found significant differences in weight, BMI, abdominal perimeter, diastolic blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol levels. The main change that vertebrates both groups is the Self-Assessment Anhedonia Scale, where we detected higher levels in the dropout group (no physical activity) compared to the active group. CONCLUSION The benefits of physical exercise are clear in chronic patients with schizophrenia, as it substantially improves their BMI, as well as their clinical and biochemical parameters. However, our study reveals the biological and molecular pathways that affect physical exercise in schizophrenia, such as important metabolic proteins such as ApoE and ApoC, proteins involved in neuronal regulation such as tenascin and neurotrophins, neuroinflammatory regulatory pathways such as lipocalin-2 and protein 14-3-3, as well as cytoskeleton proteins of cells such as spectrins and annexines. Understanding these molecular mechanisms opens the door to future therapies in the chronicity of schizophrenia.
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Kulminski AM, Philipp I, Loika Y, He L, Culminskaya I. Protective association of the ε2/ε3 heterozygote with Alzheimer's disease is strengthened by TOMM40-APOE variants in men. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 17:1779-1787. [PMID: 34310032 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite advances, understanding the protective role of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε2 allele in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains elusive. METHODS We examined associations of variants comprised of the TOMM40 rs8106922 and APOE rs405509, rs440446, and ε2-encoding rs7412 polymorphisms with AD in a sample of 2862 AD-affected and 169,516 AD-unaffected non-carriers of the ε4 allele. RESULTS Association of the ε2/ε3 heterozygote of men with AD is 38% (P = 1.65 × 10-2 ) more beneficial when it is accompanied by rs8106922 major allele homozygote and rs405509 and rs440446 heterozygotes than by rs8106922 heterozygote and rs405509 and rs440446 major allele homozygotes. No difference in the beneficial associations of these two most common ε2/ε3-bearing variants with AD was identified in women. The role of ε2/ε3 heterozygote may be affected by different immunomodulation functions of rs8106922, rs405509, and rs440446 variants in a sex-specific manner. DISCUSSION Combination of TOMM40 and APOE variants defines a more homogeneous AD-protective ε2/ε3-bearing profile in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Kulminski
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ian Philipp
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yury Loika
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Liang He
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Irina Culminskaya
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Saunders AM, Burns DK, Gottschalk WK. Reassessment of Pioglitazone for Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:666958. [PMID: 34220427 PMCID: PMC8243371 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.666958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a quintessential 'unmet medical need', accounting for ∼65% of progressive cognitive impairment among the elderly, and 700,000 deaths in the United States in 2020. In 2019, the cost of caring for Alzheimer's sufferers was $244B, not including the emotional and physical toll on caregivers. In spite of this dismal reality, no treatments are available that reduce the risk of developing AD or that offer prolonged mitiagation of its most devestating symptoms. This review summarizes key aspects of the biology and genetics of Alzheimer's disease, and we describe how pioglitazone improves many of the patholophysiological determinants of AD. We also summarize the results of pre-clinical experiments, longitudinal observational studies, and clinical trials. The results of animal testing suggest that pioglitazone can be corrective as well as protective, and that its efficacy is enhanced in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but the dose-effect relations are not monotonic or sigmoid. Longitudinal cohort studies suggests that it delays the onset of dementia in individuals with pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus, which small scale, unblinded pilot studies seem to confirm. However, the results of placebo-controlled, blinded clinical trials have not borne this out, and we discuss possible explanations for these discrepancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M. Saunders
- Zinfandel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Daniel K. Burns
- Zinfandel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Zhu X, Borenstein AR, Zheng Y, Zhang W, Seidner DL, Ness R, Murff HJ, Li B, Shrubsole MJ, Yu C, Hou L, Dai Q. Ca:Mg Ratio, APOE Cytosine Modifications, and Cognitive Function: Results from a Randomized Trial. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 75:85-98. [PMID: 32280092 DOI: 10.3233/jad-191223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deterioration of ionized calcium (Ca2+) handling in neurons could lead to neurodegenerative disease. Magnesium (Mg) antagonizes Ca during many physiologic activities, including energy metabolism and catalyzation of demethylation from 5-methylcytosine(5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine(5-hmC). OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that actively reducing the Ca:Mg intake ratio in the diet through Mg supplementation improves cognitive function, and to test whether this effect is partially mediated by modified cytosines in Apolipoprotein E (APOE). METHODS This study is nested within the Personalized Prevention of Colorectal Cancer Trial (PPCCT), a double-blind 2×2 factorial randomized controlled trial, which enrolled 250 participants from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Target doses for both Mg and placebo arms were personalized. RESULTS Among those aged > 65 years old who consumed a high Ca:Mg ratio diet, we found that reducing the Ca:Mg ratio to around 2.3 by personalized Mg supplementation significantly improved cognitive function by 9.1% (p = 0.03). We also found that reducing the Ca:Mg ratio significantly reduced 5-mC at the cg13496662 and cg06750524 sites only among those aged > 65 years old (p values = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively). Furthermore, the beneficial effect of reducing the Ca:Mg ratio on cognitive function in those aged over 65 years was partially mediated by reductions in 5-mC levels (i.e., cg13496662 and cg06750524) in APOE (p for indirect effect = 0.05). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that, among those age 65 and over with a high dietary Ca:Mg ratio, optimal Mg status may improve cognitive function partially through modifications in APOE methylation. These findings, if confirmed, have significant implications for the prevention of cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease.Clinical Trial Registry number and website: #100106 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03265483.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangzhu Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Amy R Borenstein
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yinan Zheng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Douglas L Seidner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Reid Ness
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Harvey J Murff
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Bingshan Li
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Martha J Shrubsole
- Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Chang Yu
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lifang Hou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Qi Dai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Chen M, Xia W. Proteomic Profiling of Plasma and Brain Tissue from Alzheimer's Disease Patients Reveals Candidate Network of Plasma Biomarkers. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 76:349-368. [PMID: 32474469 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia with two pathological hallmarks of tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid-β protein (Aβ)-containing neuritic plaques. Although Aβ and tau have been explored as potential biomarkers, levels of these pathological proteins in blood fail to distinguish AD from healthy control subjects. OBJECTIVE We aim to discover potential plasma proteins associated with AD pathology by performing tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomic analysis of proteins from peripheral and central nervous system compartments. METHODS We performed comparative proteomic analyses of plasma collected from AD patients and cognitively normal subjects. In addition, proteomic profiles from the inferior frontal cortex, superior frontal cortex, and cerebellum of postmortem brain tissue from five AD patients and five non-AD controls were compared with plasma proteomic profiles to search for common biomarkers. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze plasma and brain tissue labeled with isobaric TMT for relative protein quantification. RESULTS Our results showed that the proteins in complement coagulation cascade and interleukin-6 signaling were significantly altered in both plasma and brains of AD patients. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate the relevance in immune responses between the peripheral and central nervous systems. Those differentially regulated plasma proteins are explored as candidate biomarker profiles that illustrate chronic neuroinflammation in brains of AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Chen
- Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Weiming Xia
- Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Bezuch N, Bradburn S, Robinson AC, Pendleton N, Payton A, Murgatroyd C. Superior Frontal Gyrus TOMM40-APOE Locus DNA Methylation in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2021; 5:275-282. [PMID: 34113784 PMCID: PMC8150259 DOI: 10.3233/adr-201000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The APOE ɛ4 allele is the strongest known genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The neighboring TOMM40 gene has also been implicated in AD due to its close proximity to APOE. Objective: Here we tested whether methylation of the TOMM40-APOE locus may influence ApoE protein levels and AD pathology. Methods: DNA methylation levels across the TOMM40-APOE locus and ApoE levels were measured in superior frontal gyrus tissues of 62 human brains genotyped for APOE and scored for AD neuropathology. Results: Methylation levels within the TOMM40 CpG island in the promoter or APOE CpG island in Exon 4 did not differ between APOE ɛ4 carriers versus non-carriers. However, APOE ɛ4 carriers had significantly higher methylation the APOE promoter compared with non-carriers. Although DNA methylation at TOMM40, APOE promoter region, or APOE did not differ between AD pathological groups, there was a negative association between TOMM40 methylation and CERAD scores. ApoE protein concentrations did not significantly different between APOE ɛ4 carriers and non-carriers, or between AD pathological groups. Finally, there was no correlation between ApoE protein concentrations and DNA methylation levels. Conclusion: APOE gene methylation may not be affected by genotype, relate to AD pathology or ApoE protein levels in the superior frontal gyrus, though, DNA methylation at the ApoE promoter differed between genotype. DNA methylation at TOMM40 associated with amyloid-β plaques and longitudinal fluid intelligence. In sum, these results suggest a complicated regulation of the TOMM40-APOE locus in the brain in controlling ApoE protein levels and AD neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Bezuch
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Steven Bradburn
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew C Robinson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, UK
| | - Neil Pendleton
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, UK
| | - Antony Payton
- Division of Informatics, Imaging & Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Chris Murgatroyd
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
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Nikolac Perkovic M, Videtic Paska A, Konjevod M, Kouter K, Svob Strac D, Nedic Erjavec G, Pivac N. Epigenetics of Alzheimer's Disease. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020195. [PMID: 33573255 PMCID: PMC7911414 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There are currently no validated biomarkers which can be used to accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or to distinguish it from other dementia-causing neuropathologies. Moreover, to date, only symptomatic treatments exist for this progressive neurodegenerative disorder. In the search for new, more reliable biomarkers and potential therapeutic options, epigenetic modifications have emerged as important players in the pathogenesis of AD. The aim of the article was to provide a brief overview of the current knowledge regarding the role of epigenetics (including mitoepigenetics) in AD, and the possibility of applying these advances for future AD therapy. Extensive research has suggested an important role of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation, histone posttranslational modifications, and non-coding RNA regulation (with the emphasis on microRNAs) in the course and development of AD. Recent studies also indicated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as an interesting biomarker of AD, since dysfunctions in the mitochondria and lower mtDNA copy number have been associated with AD pathophysiology. The current evidence suggests that epigenetic changes can be successfully detected, not only in the central nervous system, but also in the cerebrospinal fluid and on the periphery, contributing further to their potential as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matea Nikolac Perkovic
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuropsychiatry, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.N.P.); (M.K.); (D.S.S.); (G.N.E.)
| | - Alja Videtic Paska
- Medical Center for Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.V.P.); (K.K.)
| | - Marcela Konjevod
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuropsychiatry, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.N.P.); (M.K.); (D.S.S.); (G.N.E.)
| | - Katarina Kouter
- Medical Center for Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.V.P.); (K.K.)
| | - Dubravka Svob Strac
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuropsychiatry, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.N.P.); (M.K.); (D.S.S.); (G.N.E.)
| | - Gordana Nedic Erjavec
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuropsychiatry, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.N.P.); (M.K.); (D.S.S.); (G.N.E.)
| | - Nela Pivac
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuropsychiatry, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.N.P.); (M.K.); (D.S.S.); (G.N.E.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +38-514-571-207
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Yang A, Kantor B, Chiba-Falek O. APOE: The New Frontier in the Development of a Therapeutic Target towards Precision Medicine in Late-Onset Alzheimer's. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1244. [PMID: 33513969 PMCID: PMC7865856 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a critical unmet medical need. The consensus around the amyloid cascade hypothesis has been guiding pre-clinical and clinical research to focus mainly on targeting beta-amyloid for treating AD. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the clinical trials have repeatedly failed, prompting the urgent need to refocus on other targets and shifting the paradigm of AD drug development towards precision medicine. One such emerging target is apolipoprotein E (APOE), identified nearly 30 years ago as one of the strongest and most reproduceable genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). An exploration of APOE as a new therapeutic culprit has produced some very encouraging results, proving that the protein holds promise in the context of LOAD therapies. Here, we review the strategies to target APOE based on state-of-the-art technologies such as antisense oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, and gene/base editing. We discuss the potential of these initiatives in advancing the development of novel precision medicine therapies to LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Yang
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Boris Kantor
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
- Viral Vector Core, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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Fransquet PD, Lacaze P, Saffery R, Phung J, Parker E, Shah RC, Murray A, Woods RL, Ryan J. DNA methylation analysis of candidate genes associated with dementia in peripheral blood. Epigenomics 2020; 12:2109-2123. [PMID: 33300824 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2020-0236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To investigate whether genes implicated in dementia pathogenesis are differently methylated in peripheral blood. Materials & methods: Participants included 160 cognitively healthy individuals aged 70+ years: 73 who were subsequently diagnosed with dementia and 87 controls matched on age, gender, education, smoking and baseline cognition. A total of 49 participants also provided blood samples at diagnosis. Blood DNA methylation of APOE, APP, BDNF, PIN1, SNCA and TOMM40 was examined. Results: A total of 56 of 299 probes were differentially methylated in dementia compared with controls and 39 probes prior to diagnosis. The greatest effect size was in APP (cg19423170, Δ-8.32%, adjusted p = 0.009 at diagnosis; cg19933173, Δ-4.18%, adjusted p < 0.0001 prediagnosis). Conclusion: Genes implicated in dementia pathogenesis show differential blood methylation in dementia, even prior to diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Fransquet
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004 Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul Lacaze
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004 Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute & Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 Victoria, Australia
| | - James Phung
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004 Victoria, Australia
| | - Emily Parker
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004 Victoria, Australia
| | - Raj C Shah
- Department of Family Medicine & Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anne Murray
- Berman Center for Outcomes & Clinical Research, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Hennepin Healthcare; Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Robyn L Woods
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004 Victoria, Australia
| | - Joanne Ryan
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004 Victoria, Australia.,PSNREC, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
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Lawton A, Morgan CR, Schreiner CR, Schreiner CG, Baumann J, Upchurch B, Xu F, Price MS, Isaacs GD. Folate-Dependent Cognitive Impairment Associated With Specific Gene Networks in the Adult Mouse Hippocampus. Front Nutr 2020; 7:574730. [PMID: 33282900 PMCID: PMC7689186 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2020.574730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-term folate deficiency has been linked to cognitive defects. Given folate's role in regulating nucleotide synthesis and DNA and histone methylation, these changes are often linked to altered gene expression and might be controlled by specific regulatory networks. In our study we examined the effects of folic acid (FA) deficient or replete diets in mice, containing either no source of folate or normal FA intake, beginning post-weaning and persisting through the end of adult life at 18 months. Our goal was to assess levels of cognition in these mice using the novel object test and then connect the cognitive results to genetic changes. FA deficient mice showed significant memory impairment compared to control counterparts beginning at 5 months and persisting through 17 months, as determined by the novel object test. These deficits were associated with 363 significantly downregulated and 101 significantly upregulated genes in the deficient condition compared to the control condition in microarray analysis of hippocampal tissue. Many of these gene expression changes were determined to be specific to the hippocampus. Significant ontological categories for differential genes included nucleotide regulation, ion channel activity, and MAPK signaling; while some of these categories contain genes previously mapped to cognitive decline, other genes have not previously been associated with cognition. To determine proteins possibly involved in regulation of these genes, we performed bioinformatics analysis and found enriched motifs of for MafB and Zfp410 binding sites. These genes and enriched motifs may represent targets for treatment or investigation of memory-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Lawton
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Caroline R Morgan
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Caleb R Schreiner
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Chris G Schreiner
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Jacqueline Baumann
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Britton Upchurch
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Feifan Xu
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Michael S Price
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Science, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lynchburg, VA, United States.,Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Gary D Isaacs
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
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Proteomic and metabolic profiling of chronic patients with schizophrenia induced by a physical activity program: Pilot study. REVISTA DE PSIQUIATRIA Y SALUD MENTAL 2020. [PMID: 33264672 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2020.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia is a chronic illness often accompanied by metabolic disorders, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular problems often associated with unhealthy lifestyles, as well as neuroendocrine problems caused by the disease itself. Lifestyle changes, such as regular physical exercise, have a positive effect on metabolic disorders and mental health, although the molecular changes that occur in this type of patient and how they explain the changes in their response are unknown. This study wants to analyze in a novel way the proteins and molecular pathways involved in critical plasmatic proteins in plasma to reveal the pathways involved in the implementation of physical exercise and the changes that occur among patients who participate in such programs with those who leave. METHODS Twenty-one patients with chronic schizophrenia underwent a daily, 6-month aerobic training program. We divided them into a group that completed the program (12 patients) and a second group that left the training program (9 patients). The biochemical and clinical data of each patient were analyzed and the proteomic profile of the plasma was studied using ESI-LC-MS/MS. RESULTS Proteomic analysis recognizes 21.165 proteins and peptides in each patient, of which we identified 1,812 proteins that varied between both groups linked to the metabolic and biological regulation pathways. After clinical analysis of each patient we found significant differences in weight, BMI, abdominal perimeter, diastolic blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol levels. The main change that vertebrates both groups is the Self-Assessment Anhedonia Scale, where we detected higher levels in the dropout group (no physical activity) compared to the active group. CONCLUSION The benefits of physical exercise are clear in chronic patients with schizophrenia, as it substantially improves their BMI, as well as their clinical and biochemical parameters. However, our study reveals the biological and molecular pathways that affect physical exercise in schizophrenia, such as important metabolic proteins such as ApoE and ApoC, proteins involved in neuronal regulation such as tenascin and neurotrophins, neuroinflammatory regulatory pathways such as lipocalin-2 and protein 14-3-3, as well as cytoskeleton proteins of cells such as spectrins and annexines. Understanding these molecular mechanisms opens the door to future therapies in the chronicity of schizophrenia.
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Kulminski AM, Philipp I, Loika Y, He L, Culminskaya I. Haplotype architecture of the Alzheimer's risk in the APOE region via co-skewness. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 12:e12129. [PMID: 33204816 PMCID: PMC7656174 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As a multifactorial polygenic disorder, Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be associated with complex haplotypes or compound genotypes. METHODS We examined associations of 4960 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) triples, comprising 32 SNPs from five genes in the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) region with AD in a sample of 2789 AD-affected and 16,334 unaffected subjects. RESULTS We identified a large number of 1127 AD-associated triples, comprising SNPs from all five genes, in support of definitive roles of complex haplotypes in predisposition to AD. These haplotypes may not include the APOE ε4 and ε2 alleles. For triples with rs429358 or rs7412, which encode these alleles, AD is characterized mainly by strengthening connections of the ε4 allele and weakening connections of the ε2 allele with the other alleles in this region. DISCUSSION Dissecting heterogeneity attributed to AD-associated complex haplotypes in the APOE region will target more homogeneous polygenic profiles of people at high risk of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M. Kulminski
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Ian Philipp
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Yury Loika
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Liang He
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Irina Culminskaya
- Biodemography of Aging Research UnitSocial Science Research InstituteDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
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DNA methylation in Alzheimer’s disease: In brain and peripheral blood. Mech Ageing Dev 2020; 191:111319. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Soyal SM, Kwik M, Kalev O, Lenz S, Zara G, Strasser P, Patsch W, Weis S. A TOMM40/APOE allele encoding APOE-E3 predicts high likelihood of late-onset Alzheimer's disease in autopsy cases. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2020; 8:e1317. [PMID: 32472747 PMCID: PMC7434743 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The APOE-ε4 allele is an established risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). TOMM40 located adjacent to APOE has also been implicated in AD but reports of TOMM40 associations with AD that are independent of APOE-ε4 are at variance. METHODS We investigated associations of AD with haplotypes defined by three TOMM40 and two APOE single nucleotide polymorphisms in 73 and 71 autopsy cases with intermediate and high likelihood of AD (defined by BRAAK stages RESULTS We observed eight haplotypes with a frequency >0.02. The two haplotypes encoding APOE-E4 showed strong associations with AD that did not differ between intermediate and high likelihood AD. In contrast, a TOMM40 haplotype encoding APOE-E3 was identified as risk haplotype of high- (p = .0186), but not intermediate likelihood AD (p = .7530). Furthermore, the variant allele of rs2075650 located in intron 2 of TOMM40, increased the risk of high-, but not intermediate likelihood AD on the APOE-ε3/ε3 background (p = .0230). CONCLUSION The striking association of TOMM40 only with high likelihood AD may explain some contrasting results for TOMM40 in clinical studies and may reflect an association with more advanced disease and/or suggest a role of TOMM40 in the pathogenesis of neurofibrillary tangles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selma M. Soyal
- Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyParacelsus Medical UniversitySalzburgAustria
| | - Markus Kwik
- Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyParacelsus Medical UniversitySalzburgAustria
| | - Ognian Kalev
- Division of NeuropathologyNeuromed Campus, Kepler University HospitalLinzAustria
| | - Stefan Lenz
- Division of NeuropathologyNeuromed Campus, Kepler University HospitalLinzAustria
| | - Greta Zara
- Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyParacelsus Medical UniversitySalzburgAustria
| | - Peter Strasser
- Institute of Laboratory MedicineParacelsus Medical UniversitySalzburgAustria
| | - Wolfgang Patsch
- Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyParacelsus Medical UniversitySalzburgAustria
| | - Serge Weis
- Division of NeuropathologyNeuromed Campus, Kepler University HospitalLinzAustria
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Wang T, Zhang J, Xu Y. Epigenetic Basis of Lead-Induced Neurological Disorders. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17134878. [PMID: 32645824 PMCID: PMC7370007 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17134878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Environmental lead (Pb) exposure is closely associated with pathogenesis of a range of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), etc. Epigenetic machinery modulates neural development and activities, while faulty epigenetic regulation contributes to the diverse forms of CNS (central nervous system) abnormalities and diseases. As a potent epigenetic modifier, lead is thought to cause neurological disorders through modulating epigenetic mechanisms. Specifically, increasing evidence linked aberrant DNA methylations, histone modifications as well as ncRNAs (non-coding RNAs) with AD cases, among which circRNA (circular RNA) stands out as a new and promising field for association studies. In 23-year-old primates with developmental lead treatment, Zawia group discovered a variety of epigenetic changes relating to AD pathogenesis. This is a direct evidence implicating epigenetic basis in lead-induced AD animals with an entire lifespan. Additionally, some epigenetic molecules associated with AD etiology were also known to respond to chronic lead exposure in comparable disease models, indicating potentially interlaced mechanisms with respect to the studied neurotoxic and pathological events. Of note, epigenetic molecules acted via globally or selectively influencing the expression of disease-related genes. Compared to AD, the association of lead exposure with other neurological disorders were primarily supported by epidemiological survey, with fewer reports connecting epigenetic regulators with lead-induced pathogenesis. Some pharmaceuticals, such as HDAC (histone deacetylase) inhibitors and DNA methylation inhibitors, were developed to deal with CNS disease by targeting epigenetic components. Still, understandings are insufficient regarding the cause–consequence relations of epigenetic factors and neurological illness. Therefore, clear evidence should be provided in future investigations to address detailed roles of novel epigenetic factors in lead-induced neurological disorders, and efforts of developing specific epigenetic therapeutics should be appraised.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yi Xu
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-183-2613-5046
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Cacabelos R. Pharmacogenetic considerations when prescribing cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2020; 16:673-701. [PMID: 32520597 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2020.1779700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cholinergic dysfunction, demonstrated in the late 1970s and early 1980s, led to the introduction of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) in 1993 (Tacrine) to enhance cholinergic neurotransmission as the first line of treatment against Alzheimer's disease (AD). The new generation of AChEIs, represented by Donepezil (1996), Galantamine (2001) and Rivastigmine (2002), is the only treatment for AD to date, together with Memantine (2003). AChEIs are not devoid of side-effects and their cost-effectiveness is limited. An option to optimize the correct use of AChEIs is the implementation of pharmacogenetics (PGx) in the clinical practice. AREAS COVERED (i) The cholinergic system in AD, (ii) principles of AD PGx, (iii) PGx of Donepezil, Galantamine, Rivastigmine, Huperzine and other treatments, and (iv) practical recommendations. EXPERT OPINION The most relevant genes influencing AChEI efficacy and safety are APOE and CYPs. APOE-4 carriers are the worst responders to AChEIs. With the exception of Rivastigmine (UGT2B7, BCHE-K), the other AChEIs are primarily metabolized via CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and UGT enzymes, with involvement of ABC transporters and cholinergic genes (CHAT, ACHE, BCHE, SLC5A7, SLC18A3, CHRNA7) in most ethnic groups. Defective variants may affect the clinical response to AChEIs. PGx geno-phenotyping is highly recommended prior to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Cacabelos
- Department of Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine , Bergondo, Corunna, Spain
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Mur J, McCartney DL, Walker RM, Campbell A, Bermingham ML, Morris SW, Porteous DJ, McIntosh AM, Deary IJ, Evans KL, Marioni RE. DNA methylation in APOE: The relationship with Alzheimer's and with cardiovascular health. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2020; 6:e12026. [PMID: 32346601 PMCID: PMC7185210 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Genetic variation in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). DNA methylationat APOE has been associated with altered cognition and AD. It is unclear if epigenetic marks could be used for predicting future disease. METHODS We assessed blood-based DNA methylation at 13 CpGs in the APOE gene in 5828 participants from the Generation Scotland (GS) cohort. Using linear mixed models regression, we examined the relationships among APOE methylation, cognition, cholesterol, the family history of AD and the risk for CVD. RESULTS DNA methylation at two CpGs was associated with the ratio of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, but not with cognition, family history of AD, or the risk of CVD. DISCUSSION APOE methylation is associated with the levels of blood cholesterol, but there is no evidence for the utility of APOE methylation as a biomarker for predicting AD or CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jure Mur
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Daniel L. McCartney
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Rosie M. Walker
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Archie Campbell
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Mairead L. Bermingham
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Stewart W. Morris
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - David J. Porteous
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Andrew M. McIntosh
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Division of PsychiatryCentre for Clinical Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Ian J. Deary
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Kathryn L. Evans
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Riccardo E. Marioni
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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Fuior EV, Gafencu AV. Apolipoprotein C1: Its Pleiotropic Effects in Lipid Metabolism and Beyond. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20235939. [PMID: 31779116 PMCID: PMC6928722 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein C1 (apoC1), the smallest of all apolipoproteins, participates in lipid transport and metabolism. In humans, APOC1 gene is in linkage disequilibrium with APOE gene on chromosome 19, a proximity that spurred its investigation. Apolipoprotein C1 associates with triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and HDL and exchanges between lipoprotein classes. These interactions occur via amphipathic helix motifs, as demonstrated by biophysical studies on the wild-type polypeptide and representative mutants. Apolipoprotein C1 acts on lipoprotein receptors by inhibiting binding mediated by apolipoprotein E, and modulating the activities of several enzymes. Thus, apoC1 downregulates lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, phospholipase A2, cholesterylester transfer protein, and activates lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase. By controlling the plasma levels of lipids, apoC1 relates directly to cardiovascular physiology, but its activity extends beyond, to inflammation and immunity, sepsis, diabetes, cancer, viral infectivity, and-not last-to cognition. Such correlations were established based on studies using transgenic mice, associated in the recent years with GWAS, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. The presence of a duplicate gene, pseudogene APOC1P, stimulated evolutionary studies and more recently, the regulatory properties of the corresponding non-coding RNA are steadily emerging. Nonetheless, this prototypical apolipoprotein is still underexplored and deserves further research for understanding its physiology and exploiting its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V. Fuior
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “N. Simionescu”, 050568 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Anca V. Gafencu
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “N. Simionescu”, 050568 Bucharest, Romania;
- Correspondence:
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Maj C, Azevedo T, Giansanti V, Borisov O, Dimitri GM, Spasov S, Lió P, Merelli I. Integration of Machine Learning Methods to Dissect Genetically Imputed Transcriptomic Profiles in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Genet 2019; 10:726. [PMID: 31552082 PMCID: PMC6735530 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic component of many common traits is associated with the gene expression and several variants act as expression quantitative loci, regulating the gene expression in a tissue specific manner. In this work, we applied tissue-specific cis-eQTL gene expression prediction models on the genotype of 808 samples including controls, subjects with mild cognitive impairment, and patients with Alzheimer's Disease. We then dissected the imputed transcriptomic profiles by means of different unsupervised and supervised machine learning approaches to identify potential biological associations. Our analysis suggests that unsupervised and supervised methods can provide complementary information, which can be integrated for a better characterization of the underlying biological system. In particular, a variational autoencoder representation of the transcriptomic profiles, followed by a support vector machine classification, has been used for tissue-specific gene prioritizations. Interestingly, the achieved gene prioritizations can be efficiently integrated as a feature selection step for improving the accuracy of deep learning classifier networks. The identified gene-tissue information suggests a potential role for inflammatory and regulatory processes in gut-brain axis related tissues. In line with the expected low heritability that can be apportioned to eQTL variants, we were able to achieve only relatively low prediction capability with deep learning classification models. However, our analysis revealed that the classification power strongly depends on the network structure, with recurrent neural networks being the best performing network class. Interestingly, cross-tissue analysis suggests a potentially greater role of models trained in brain tissues also by considering dementia-related endophenotypes. Overall, the present analysis suggests that the combination of supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques can be used for the evaluation of high dimensional omics data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Maj
- Institute for Genomic Statistics and Bioinformatics, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tiago Azevedo
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Giansanti
- National Research Council, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, Milan, Italy
| | - Oleg Borisov
- Institute for Genomic Statistics and Bioinformatics, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Giovanna Maria Dimitri
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Simeon Spasov
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pietro Lió
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ivan Merelli
- National Research Council, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, Milan, Italy
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Non-coding variability at the APOE locus contributes to the Alzheimer's risk. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3310. [PMID: 31346172 PMCID: PMC6658518 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10945-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a leading cause of mortality in the elderly. While the coding change of APOE-ε4 is a key risk factor for late-onset AD and has been believed to be the only risk factor in the APOE locus, it does not fully explain the risk effect conferred by the locus. Here, we report the identification of AD causal variants in PVRL2 and APOC1 regions in proximity to APOE and define common risk haplotypes independent of APOE-ε4 coding change. These risk haplotypes are associated with changes of AD-related endophenotypes including cognitive performance, and altered expression of APOE and its nearby genes in the human brain and blood. High-throughput genome-wide chromosome conformation capture analysis further supports the roles of these risk haplotypes in modulating chromatin states and gene expression in the brain. Our findings provide compelling evidence for additional risk factors in the APOE locus that contribute to AD pathogenesis. Several studies show that APOE-ε4 coding variants are associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk. Here, Zhou et al. perform fine-mapping of the APOE region and find AD risk haplotypes with non-coding variants in the PVRL2 and APOC1 regions that are associated with relevant endophenotypes.
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50
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Abstract
Dementia is an overarching term which describes a group of symptoms that result in long-term decline in cognitive functioning that is significant enough to affect daily function. It is caused by a number of different diseases, the most common of which is Alzheimer's disease. Currently, there are no definitive biomarkers for preclinical or diagnostic use, or which differentiate between underlying disease types. The purpose of this review is to highlight several important areas of research on blood-based biomarkers of dementia, with a specific focus on epigenetic biomarkers. A systematic search of the literature identified 77 studies that compared blood DNA methylation between individuals with dementia and controls and 45 studies that measured microRNA. Very few studies were identified that focused on histone modifications. There were many promising findings from studies in the field of blood-based epigenetic biomarkers of dementia, however, a lack of consistency in study design, technologies, and platforms used for the biomarker measurement, as well as statistical analysis methods, have hampered progress. To date, there are very few findings that have been independently replicated across more than one study, indicating a preponderance of false-positive findings and the field has likely been plagued by positive publication bias. Here, we highlight and discuss several of the limitations of existing studies and provide recommendations for how these could be overcome in future research. A robust framework should be followed to enable development of the most valid and reproducible biomarkers with the strongest clinical utility. Defining a series of biomarkers that may be complimentary to each other could permit a stronger multifactorial biomarker to be developed that would allow for not only accurate dementia diagnosis but preclinical detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Fransquet
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.,Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute , Parkville , Australia
| | - Joanne Ryan
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.,Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute , Parkville , Australia
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