Preliminary study on the association of AQP4 promoter polymorphism with anti-aquaporin-4 antibody positivity in Southern Han Chinese patients with idiopathic demyelinating disorders of central nervous system

A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Genetic Factors in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) comprise a variety of disorders being described by optic neuritis and myelitis. This disorder is mostly observed in sporadic form, yet 3% of cases are familial NMO. Different series of familial NMO cases have been reported up to now, with some of them being associated with certain HLA haplotypes. Assessment of HLA allele and haplotypes has also revealed association between some alleles within HLA-DRB1 or other loci and sporadic NMO. More recently, genome-wide SNP arrays have shown some susceptibility loci for NMO. In the current manuscript, we review available information about the role of genetic factors in NMO.

Whole-exome sequencing reveals the major genetic factors contributing to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Chinese patients with aquaporin 4-IgG seropositivity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune disease. Although genetic factors are involved in its pathogenesis, limited evidence is available in this area. The aim of the present study was to identify the major genetic factors contributing to NMOSD in Chinese patients with aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG seropositivity.

METHODS

Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on 228 Chinese NMOSD patients seropositive for AQP4-IgG and 1400 healthy controls in Guangzhou, South China. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) sequencing was also utilized. Genotype model and haplotype, gene burden, and enrichment analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

A significant region of the HLA composition is on chromosome 6, and great variation was observed in DQB1, DQA2 and DQA1. HLA sequencing confirmed that the most significant allele was HLA-DQB1*05:02 (p < 0.01, odds ratio [OR] 3.73). The genotype model analysis revealed that HLA-DQB1*05:02 was significantly associated with NMOSD in the additive effect model and dominant effect model (p < 0.05). The proportion of haplotype "HLA-DQB1*05:02-DRB1*15:01" was significantly greater in the NMOSD patients than the controls, at 8.42% and 1.23%, respectively (p < 0.001, OR 7.39). The gene burden analysis demonstrated that loss-of-function mutations in NOP16 were more common in the NMOSD patients (11.84%) than the controls (5.71%; p < 0.001, OR 2.22). The IgG1-G390R variant was significantly more common in NMOSD, and the rate of the T allele was 0.605 in patients and 0.345 in the controls (p < 0.01, OR 2.92). The enrichment analysis indicated that most of the genetic factors were mainly correlated with nervous and immune processes.

CONCLUSIONS

Human leukocyte antigen is highly correlated with NMOSD. NOP16 and IgG1-G390R play important roles in disease susceptibility.

Native American ancestry significantly contributes to neuromyelitis optica susceptibility in the admixed Mexican population

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disease with a higher prevalence in non-European populations. Because the Mexican population resulted from the admixture between mainly Native American and European populations, we used genome-wide microarray, HLA high-resolution typing and AQP4 gene sequencing data to analyze genetic ancestry and to seek genetic variants conferring NMO susceptibility in admixed Mexican patients. A total of 164 Mexican NMO patients and 1,208 controls were included. On average, NMO patients had a higher proportion of Native American ancestry than controls (68.1% vs 58.6%; p = 5 × 10^-6). GWAS identified a HLA region associated with NMO, led by rs9272219 (OR = 2.48, P = 8 × 10^-10). Class II HLA alleles HLA-DQB1*03:01, -DRB1*08:02, -DRB1*16:02, -DRB1*14:06 and -DQB1*04:02 showed the most significant associations with NMO risk. Local ancestry estimates suggest that all the NMO-associated alleles within the HLA region are of Native American origin. No novel or missense variants in the AQP4 gene were found in Mexican patients with NMO or multiple sclerosis. To our knowledge, this is the first study supporting the notion that Native American ancestry significantly contributes to NMO susceptibility in an admixed population, and is consistent with differences in NMO epidemiology in Mexico and Latin America.

Familial clustering of neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis: clues pointing towards shared risks?

We examine the prevalence of the familial association of concordant NMOSD/NMOSD and discordant NMOSD/MS cases among a large NMOSD cohort. Familial association was examined in a monocenter cohort of 119 NMOSD patients and 45 patients at high risk of NMOSD from French West Indies. Data mining gathered 31 multiplex families. Twin monozygotic sisters concordant for NMOSD/NMOSD, and four discordant NMOSD/MS families, accounted respectively for 0.8% and 3.4% of the NMOSD cohort. Familial clustering was more frequent than random association. In discordant NMOSD/MS families, the NMOSD patient was always from the parental generation. The non-random successive familial cases of NMOSD and MS suggest a change of risk factor over generations.

Aquaporin-4 polymorphisms predict amyloid burden and clinical outcome in the Alzheimer's disease spectrum

Clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) from the brain is hypothesized to be mediated by the glymphatic system through aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels. Genetic variation of AQP4 may impact water channel function, Aβ clearance, and clinical outcomes. We examined whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the AQP4 gene were related to Aβ neuropathology on [¹⁸F]Florbetapir PET in 100 Aβ positive late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and were predictive of clinical outcome in prodromal AD patients. AQP4 SNP rs72878794 was associated with decreased Aβ uptake, whereas rs151244 was associated with increased Aβ uptake, increased risk of conversion from MCI and LMCI to AD, and an increased 4-year rate of cognitive decline in LMCI. AQP4 genetic variation was associated with Aβ accumulation, disease stage progression, and cognitive decline. This variation may correspond to changes in glymphatic system functioning and brain Aβ clearance and could be a useful biomarker in predicting disease burden for those on the dementia spectrum.

AQP4 tag SNPs in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in Greek and Polish population

BACKROUND

A relatively small number of genetic variants are implicated to pathophysiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) has been reported to be implicated in the pathophysiological processes of ICH development.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the role of AQP4 gene region polymorphisms on the ICH risk.

METHODS

A total of 250 Greek and 193 Polish patients with primary ICH and 250 and 322 respective controls were enrolled, forming two independent cohorts in order to validate any significant effect. With logistic regression analyses, 7 AQP4 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined for association with ICH risk, lobar/non-lobar ICH risk, and 6-month disability after ICH. Cox regression analysis was applied in order to the effect of AQP4 SNPs on ICH age of onset be tested. Correction for multiple comparisons was applied.

RESULTS

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that rs3875089 in the Greek cohort and rs3763043, rs335931 in the Polish cohort had a significant influence on the risk of ICH, lobar and non-lobar ICH. Regarding the age of onset, rs3875089 in the Greek cohort and rs3763043, rs11661256 in the Polish cohort were found to significantly alter the age of onset of ICH and its subtypes. However, all of the above associations did not survive the Bonferroni correction (p-value >0.007). Finally, AQP4 tag SNPs were not found to have any significant effect on long-term disability after ICH.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the present study provides an indication that AQP4 gene variants may affect susceptibility to primary ICH and may influence the ICH age of onset.

No association of AQP4 polymorphisms with neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). Various genetic and environmental factors have been identified to contribute to etiology of MS and NMO. Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), is the most abundant water channel in CNS. AQP4 is expressed in astrocytes of the brain, spinal cord, optic nerve and supportive cells in sensory organs. In contrast to MS, immunoreactivity of AQP4 is abolished in NMO lesions. However, conflicting results have been reported regarding the association between AQP4 polymorphisms and demyelinating disorders. Considering the ethnic differences of genetic variations, replications in other cohorts are required. In this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of AQP4 gene in patients with NMO/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and MS in the Northern Han Chinese population were examined. Six selected AQP4 SNPs were genotyped by high-resolution melting (HRM) method. Compared with healthy control (HC), there was no significant difference of AQP4 allele and genotype frequency in MS or NMO/NMOSD group. This study showed no significant association of common AQP4 SNPs with MS or NMO/NMOSD, strongly suggesting that polymorphisms of AQP4 gene are unlikely to confer MS or NMO/NMOSD susceptibility, at least in Northern Han Chinese population.

Association Between the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and the Level of Aquaporin-4 Protein Expression in Han and Minority Chinese with Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not aquaporin-4 (AQP4) gene mutations are related to the pathogenesis of inflammatory demyelinating diseases in the central nervous system. Polymorphisms of AQP4 exons 1-5 were determined by sequencing DNA from 67 patients with central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating diseases, including neuromyelitis optica (NMO), multiple sclerosis, recurrent or simultaneous bilateral optic neuritis, and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. A plasmid with the identified new missense mutation was constructed, and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293A) were transfected with either the pEGFP-N1-AQP4-M23 vector (bearing the identified mutated cDNA sequence) or with the plasmid bearing the wild-type AQP4 gene sequence. AQP4 protein expression was analyzed in both experimental groups using Western Blot analysis following protein extraction from transfected cells. A synonymous mutation (rs1839318) was detected on exon 3, and an additional synonymous mutation was detected on the exon 2-2 (rs72557968). Most importantly, a new missense mutation was detected on exon 2-1. According to Western blot analysis, the mutated cDNA sequence yielded increased AQP4 protein expression in comparison with the wild-type cDNA sequence (P < 0.05). AQP4 gene mutations are uncommon, occurring in only 3 out of 67 patients. Although it is possible that the mutations contributed to an increased risk of inflammatory central nervous system disease in these individuals, it is unlikely that mutations are a significant contributor to most patients with NMO spectrum disorders in China.

AQP4 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms in patients with traumatic brain injury

Accumulating evidence suggests that the extent of brain injury and the clinical outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are modulated, to some degree, by genetic variants. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is the predominant water channel in the central nervous system and plays a critical role in controlling the water content of brain cells and the development of brain edema after TBI. We sought to investigate the influence of the AQP4 gene region on patient outcome after TBI by genotyping tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) along AQP4 gene. A total of 363 patients with TBI (19.6% female) were prospectively evaluated. Data including the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores at admission, the presence of intracranial hemorrhage, and the 6-month Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores were collected. Seven tag SNPs across the AQP4 gene were identified based on the HapMap data. Using logistic regression analyses, SNPs and haplotypes were tested for associations with 6-month GOS after adjusting for age, GCS score, and sex. Significant associations with TBI outcome were detected for rs3763043 (OR [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 5.15 [1.60-16.5], p=0.006, for recessive model), rs3875089 (OR [95% CI]: 0.18 [0.07-0.50] p=0.0009, for allele difference model), and a common haplotype of AQP4 tag SNPs (OR [95% CI]: 2.94, [1.34-6.36], p=0.0065). AQP4 tag SNPs were not found to influence the initial severity of TBI or the presence of intracranial hemorrhages. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence for possible involvement of genetic variations in AQP4 gene in the functional outcome of patients with TBI.