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Wu YS, Zheng WH, Liu TH, Sun Y, Xu YT, Shao LZ, Cai QY, Tang YQ. Joint-tissue integrative analysis identifies high-risk genes for Parkinson's disease. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1309684. [PMID: 38576865 PMCID: PMC10991821 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1309684] [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: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the abnormal accumulation of synuclein proteins and neurotransmitters in Lewy bodies constitute the primary symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Besides environmental factors, scholars are in the early stages of comprehending the genetic factors involved in the pathogenic mechanism of PD. Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have unveiled numerous genetic variants associated with PD, precisely pinpointing the causal variants remains challenging due to strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) among them. Addressing this issue, expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) cohorts were employed in a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) to infer the genetic correlation between gene expression and a particular trait. Utilizing the TWAS theory alongside the enhanced Joint-Tissue Imputation (JTI) technique and Mendelian Randomization (MR) framework (MR-JTI), we identified a total of 159 PD-associated genes by amalgamating LD score, GTEx eQTL data, and GWAS summary statistic data from a substantial cohort. Subsequently, Fisher's exact test was conducted on these PD-associated genes using 5,152 differentially expressed genes sourced from 12 PD-related datasets. Ultimately, 29 highly credible PD-associated genes, including CTX1B, SCNA, and ARSA, were uncovered. Furthermore, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that these genes primarily function in tissue synthesis, regulation of neuron projection development, vesicle organization and transportation, and lysosomal impact. The potential PD-associated genes identified in this study not only offer fresh insights into the disease's pathophysiology but also suggest potential biomarkers for early disease detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Shi Wu
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wen-Han Zheng
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tai-Hang Liu
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu-Ting Xu
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li-Zhen Shao
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qin-Yu Cai
- 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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Firdaus Z, Li X. Unraveling the Genetic Landscape of Neurological Disorders: Insights into Pathogenesis, Techniques for Variant Identification, and Therapeutic Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2320. [PMID: 38396996 PMCID: PMC10889342 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042320] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic abnormalities play a crucial role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Genetic exploration has indeed contributed to unraveling the molecular complexities responsible for the etiology and progression of various NDDs. The intricate nature of rare and common variants in NDDs contributes to a limited understanding of the genetic risk factors associated with them. Advancements in next-generation sequencing have made whole-genome sequencing and whole-exome sequencing possible, allowing the identification of rare variants with substantial effects, and improving the understanding of both Mendelian and complex neurological conditions. The resurgence of gene therapy holds the promise of targeting the etiology of diseases and ensuring a sustained correction. This approach is particularly enticing for neurodegenerative diseases, where traditional pharmacological methods have fallen short. In the context of our exploration of the genetic epidemiology of the three most prevalent NDDs-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, our primary goal is to underscore the progress made in the development of next-generation sequencing. This progress aims to enhance our understanding of the disease mechanisms and explore gene-based therapies for NDDs. Throughout this review, we focus on genetic variations, methodologies for their identification, the associated pathophysiology, and the promising potential of gene therapy. Ultimately, our objective is to provide a comprehensive and forward-looking perspective on the emerging research arena of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Firdaus
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Xiaogang Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Lona-Durazo F, Reynolds RH, Scholz SW, Ryten M, Gagliano Taliun SA. Regional genetic correlations highlight relationships between neurodegenerative disease loci and the immune system. Commun Biol 2023; 6:729. [PMID: 37454237 PMCID: PMC10349864 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05113-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, are devastating complex diseases resulting in physical and psychological burdens on patients and their families. There have been important efforts to understand their genetic basis leading to the identification of disease risk-associated loci involved in several molecular mechanisms, including immune-related pathways. Regional, in contrast to genome-wide, genetic correlations between pairs of immune and neurodegenerative traits have not been comprehensively explored, but could uncover additional immune-mediated risk-associated loci. Here, we systematically assess the role of the immune system in five neurodegenerative diseases by estimating regional genetic correlations between these diseases and immune-cell-derived single-cell expression quantitative trait loci (sc-eQTLs). We also investigate correlations between diseases and protein levels. We observe significant (FDR < 0.01) correlations between sc-eQTLs and neurodegenerative diseases across 151 unique genes, spanning both the innate and adaptive immune systems, across most diseases tested. With Parkinson's, for instance, RAB7L1 in CD4+ naïve T cells is positively correlated and KANSL1-AS1 is negatively correlated across all adaptive immune cell types. Follow-up colocalization highlight candidate causal risk genes. The outcomes of this study will improve our understanding of the immune component of neurodegeneration, which can warrant repurposing of existing immunotherapies to slow disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frida Lona-Durazo
- Montréal Heart Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Regina H Reynolds
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Sonja W Scholz
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mina Ryten
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah A Gagliano Taliun
- Montréal Heart Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Medicine & Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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