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Sommerer Y, Dobricic V, Schilling M, Ohlei O, Sabet SS, Wesse T, Fuß J, Franzenburg S, Franke A, Parkkinen L, Lill CM, Bertram L. Entorhinal cortex epigenome-wide association study highlights four novel loci showing differential methylation in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:92. [PMID: 37149695 PMCID: PMC10163801 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01232-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on DNA methylation (DNAm) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have recently highlighted several genomic loci showing association with disease onset and progression. METHODS Here, we conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) using DNAm profiles in entorhinal cortex (EC) from 149 AD patients and control brains and combined these with two previously published EC datasets by meta-analysis (total n = 337). RESULTS We identified 12 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites showing epigenome-wide significant association with either case-control status or Braak's tau-staging. Four of these CpGs, located in proximity to CNFN/LIPE, TENT5A, PALD1/PRF1, and DIRAS1, represent novel findings. Integrating DNAm levels with RNA sequencing-based mRNA expression data generated in the same individuals showed significant DNAm-mRNA correlations for 6 of the 12 significant CpGs. Lastly, by calculating rates of epigenetic age acceleration using two recently proposed "epigenetic clock" estimators we found a significant association with accelerated epigenetic aging in the brains of AD patients vs. controls. CONCLUSION In summary, our study represents the hitherto most comprehensive EWAS in AD using EC and highlights several novel differentially methylated loci with potential effects on gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Sommerer
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Valerija Dobricic
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Marcel Schilling
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Olena Ohlei
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sanaz Sedghpour Sabet
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tanja Wesse
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Janina Fuß
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sören Franzenburg
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Andre Franke
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Laura Parkkinen
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christina M Lill
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Ageing Epidemiology Unit (AGE), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lars Bertram
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics (LIGA), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Haus V50, 1St Floor, Room 319, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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Rabaneda-Bueno R, Mena-Montes B, Torres-Castro S, Torres-Carrillo N, Torres-Carrillo NM. Advances in Genetics and Epigenetic Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease: A Notion for Therapeutic Treatment. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1959. [PMID: 34946908 PMCID: PMC8700838 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disabling neurodegenerative disorder that leads to long-term functional and cognitive impairment and greatly reduces life expectancy. Early genetic studies focused on tracking variations in genome-wide DNA sequences discovered several polymorphisms and novel susceptibility genes associated with AD. However, despite the numerous risk factors already identified, there is still no fully satisfactory explanation for the mechanisms underlying the onset of the disease. Also, as with other complex human diseases, the causes of low heritability are unclear. Epigenetic mechanisms, in which changes in gene expression do not depend on changes in genotype, have attracted considerable attention in recent years and are key to understanding the processes that influence age-related changes and various neurological diseases. With the recent use of massive sequencing techniques, methods for studying epigenome variations in AD have also evolved tremendously, allowing the discovery of differentially expressed disease traits under different conditions and experimental settings. This is important for understanding disease development and for unlocking new potential AD therapies. In this work, we outline the genomic and epigenomic components involved in the initiation and development of AD and identify potentially effective therapeutic targets for disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Rabaneda-Bueno
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- School of Biological Sciences, James Clerk Maxwell Building, The King’s Buildings Campus, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Beatriz Mena-Montes
- Laboratorio de Biología del Envejecimiento, Departamento de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, Mexico City 10200, Mexico;
| | - Sara Torres-Castro
- Departamento de Epidemiología Demográfica y Determinantes Sociales, Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, Mexico City 10200, Mexico;
| | - Norma Torres-Carrillo
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico; (N.T.-C.); (N.M.T.-C.)
| | - Nora Magdalena Torres-Carrillo
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico; (N.T.-C.); (N.M.T.-C.)
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3
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Smith AR, Mill J, Lunnon K. The molecular etiology of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Pathol 2021; 30:964-965. [PMID: 32654324 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12879] [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: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing global healthcare epidemic. Owing to advances in technology, genome-scale studies of various layers of molecular information have been undertaken in recent years and robust variation in key loci have now been published and reproduced by others. This mini-symposium highlights four key areas of current research in the field of molecular biology in AD, including articles focused on large-scale genomic profiling, epigenetic research, integrative multi-omic approaches and how these can be appropriately modeled to address reverse causality. This mini-symposium provides a timely update on research focused on elucidating the molecular etiology of AD to date and highlights new methodological advances that could enable neuroscientists to identify novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam R Smith
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter University, Exeter, UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter University, Exeter, UK
| | - Katie Lunnon
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter University, Exeter, UK
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4
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Schrauben M, Dempster E, Lunnon K. Applying gene-editing technology to elucidate the functional consequence of genetic and epigenetic variation in Alzheimer's disease. Brain Pathol 2020; 30:992-1004. [PMID: 32654206 PMCID: PMC8018012 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have highlighted a potential role of genetic and epigenetic variation in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Application of the CRISPR-Cas genome-editing platform has enabled investigation of the functional impact that Alzheimer's disease-associated gene mutations have on gene expression. Moreover, recent advances in the technology have led to the generation of CRISPR-Cas-based tools that allow for high-throughput interrogation of different risk variants to elucidate the interplay between genomic regulatory features, epigenetic modifications, and chromatin structure. In this review, we examine the various iterations of the CRISPR-Cas system and their potential application for exploring the complex interactions and disruptions in gene regulatory circuits that contribute to Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma Dempster
- University of Exeter Medical SchoolExeter UniversityExeterUK
| | - Katie Lunnon
- University of Exeter Medical SchoolExeter UniversityExeterUK
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Ma Y, Klein H, De Jager PL. Considerations for integrative multi-omic approaches to explore Alzheimer's disease mechanisms. Brain Pathol 2020; 30:984-991. [PMID: 32654306 PMCID: PMC8018035 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The past decade has seen the maturation of multiple different forms of high-dimensional molecular profiling to the point that these methods could be deployed in initially hundreds and more recently thousands of human samples. In the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD), these profiles have been applied to the target organ: the aging brain. In a growing number of cases, the same samples were profiled with multiple different approaches, yielding genetic, transcriptomic, epigenomic and proteomic data. Here, we review lessons learned so far as we move beyond quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses which map the effect of genetic variation on molecular features to integrate multiple levels of "omic" data in an effort to identify the molecular drivers of AD. One thing is clear: no single layer of molecular or "omic" data is sufficient to capture the variance of AD or aging-related cognitive decline. Nonetheless, reproducible findings are emerging from current efforts, and there is evidence of convergence using different approaches. Thus, we are on the cusp of an acceleration of truly integrative studies as the availability of large numbers of well-characterized brain samples profiled in three or more dimensions enables the testing, comparison and refinement of analytic methods with which to dissect the molecular architecture of the aging brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Ma
- Center for Translational and Computational NeuroimmunologyDepartment of Neurologythe Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNY
| | - Hans‐Ulrich Klein
- Center for Translational and Computational NeuroimmunologyDepartment of Neurologythe Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNY
| | - Philip L. De Jager
- Center for Translational and Computational NeuroimmunologyDepartment of Neurologythe Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNY
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