Linkage analysis for plasma amyloid beta levels in persons with hypertension implicates Aβ-40 levels to presenilin 2

Plasma amyloid β levels are driven by genetic variants near APOE, BACE1, APP, PSEN2: A genome-wide association study in over 12,000 non-demented participants

INTRODUCTION

There is increasing interest in plasma amyloid beta (Aβ) as an endophenotype of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Identifying the genetic determinants of plasma Aβ levels may elucidate important biological processes that determine plasma Aβ measures.

METHODS

We included 12,369 non-demented participants from eight population-based studies. Imputed genetic data and measured plasma Aβ1-40, Aβ1-42 levels and Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio were used to perform genome-wide association studies, and gene-based and pathway analyses. Significant variants and genes were followed up for their association with brain positron emission tomography Aβ deposition and AD risk.

RESULTS

Single-variant analysis identified associations with apolipoprotein E (APOE) for Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio, and BACE1 for Aβ1-40. Gene-based analysis of Aβ1-40 additionally identified associations for APP, PSEN2, CCK, and ZNF397. There was suggestive evidence for interaction between a BACE1 variant and APOE ε4 on brain Aβ deposition.

DISCUSSION

Identification of variants near/in known major Aβ-processing genes strengthens the relevance of plasma-Aβ levels as an endophenotype of AD.

Genetic Variants behind Cardiovascular Diseases and Dementia

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and dementia are the leading causes of disability and mortality. Genetic connections between cardiovascular risk factors and dementia have not been elucidated. We conducted a scoping review and pathway analysis to reveal the genetic associations underlying both CVDs and dementia. In the PubMed database, literature was searched using keywords associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, white matter hyperintensities, cerebral microbleeds, and covert infarctions. Gene lists were extracted from these publications to identify shared genes and pathways for each group. This included high penetrance genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified through genome wide association studies. Most risk SNPs to both diabetes and dementia participate in the phospholipase C enzyme system and the downstream nositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol activities. Interestingly, AP-2 (TFAP2) transcription factor family and metabolism of vitamins and cofactors were associated with genetic variants that were shared by white matter hyperintensities and dementia, and by microbleeds and dementia. Variants shared by covert infarctions and dementia were related to VEGF ligand-receptor interactions and anti-inflammatory cytokine pathways. Our review sheds light on future investigations into the causative relationships behind CVDs and dementia, and can be a paradigm of the identification of dementia treatments.

Gray matter heritability in family-based and population-based studies using voxel-based morphometry

BACKGROUND

The combination of genetics and imaging has improved their understanding of the brain through studies of aggregate measures obtained from high-resolution structural imaging. Voxel-wise analyses have the potential to provide more detailed information of genetic influences on the brain. Here they report a large-scale study of the heritability of gray matter at voxel resolution (1 × 1 × 1 mm).

METHODS

Validated voxel-based morphometry (VBM) protocols were applied to process magnetic resonance imaging data of 3,239 unrelated subjects from a population-based study and 491 subjects from two family-based studies. Genome-wide genetic data was used to estimate voxel-wise gray matter heritability of the unrelated subjects and pedigree-structure was used to estimate heritability in families. They subsequently associated two genetic variants, known to be linked with subcortical brain volume, with most heritable voxels to determine if this would enhance their association signals.

RESULTS

Voxels significantly heritable in both estimates mapped to subcortical structures, but also voxels in the language areas of the left hemisphere were found significantly heritable. When comparing regional patterns of heritability, family-based estimates were higher than population-based estimates. However, regional consistency of the heritability measures across study designs was high (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.73, P = 2.6 × 10^-13 ). They further show enhancement of the association signal of two previously discovered genetic loci with subcortical volume by using only the most heritable voxels.

CONCLUSION

Gray matter voxel-wise heritability can be reliably estimated with different methods. Combining heritability estimates from multiple studies is feasible to construct reliable heritability maps of gray matter voxels. Hum Brain Mapp 38:2408-2423, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A genome-wide association meta-analysis of plasma Aβ peptides concentrations in the elderly

Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides are the major components of senile plaques, one of the main pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, Aβ peptides' functions are not fully understood and seem to be highly pleiotropic. We hypothesized that plasma Aβ peptides concentrations could be a suitable endophenotype for a genome-wide association study (GWAS) designed to (i) identify novel genetic factors involved in amyloid precursor protein metabolism and (ii) highlight relevant Aβ-related physiological and pathophysiological processes. Hence, we performed a genome-wide association meta-analysis of four studies totaling 3 528 healthy individuals of European descent and for whom plasma Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 peptides levels had been quantified. Although we did not observe any genome-wide significant locus, we identified 18 suggestive loci (P<1 × 10(-)(5)). Enrichment-pathway analyses revealed canonical pathways mainly involved in neuronal functions, for example, axonal guidance signaling. We also assessed the biological impact of the gene most strongly associated with plasma Aβ1-42 levels (cortexin 3, CTXN3) on APP metabolism in vitro and found that the gene protein was able to modulate Aβ1-42 secretion. In conclusion, our study results suggest that plasma Aβ peptides levels are valid endophenotypes in GWASs and can be used to characterize the metabolism and functions of APP and its metabolites.

Plasma amyloid beta measurements - a desired but elusive Alzheimer's disease biomarker

Cerebrospinal fluid and positron emission tomography biomarkers accurately predict an underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology; however, they represent either invasive or expensive diagnostic tools. Therefore, a blood-based biomarker like plasma amyloid beta (Aβ) that could correlate with the underlying AD pathology and serve as a prognostic biomarker or an AD screening strategy is urgently needed as a cost-effective and non-invasive diagnostic tool. In this paper we review the demographic, biologic, genetic and technical aspects that affect plasma Aβ levels. Findings of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of plasma Aβ, including autosomal dominant AD cases, sporadic AD cases, Down syndrome cases and population studies, are also discussed. Finally, we review the association between cerebrovascular disease and Aβ plasma levels and the responses observed in clinical trials. Based on our review of the current literature on plasma Aβ, we conclude that further clinical research and assay development are needed before measures of plasma Aβ can be interpreted so they can be applied as trait, risk or state biomarkers for AD.