Association study of SCARB2 rs6812193 polymorphism with Parkinson's disease in Han Chinese

The endo-lysosomal system in Parkinson's disease: expanding the horizon

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, and its prevalence is increasing with age. A wealth of genetic evidence indicates that the endo-lysosomal system is a major pathway driving PD pathogenesis with a growing number of genes encoding endo-lysosomal proteins identified as risk factors for PD, making it a promising target for therapeutic intervention. However, detailed knowledge and understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking these genes to the disease are available for only a handful of them (e.g. LRRK2, GBA1, VPS35). Taking on the challenge of studying poorly characterized genes and proteins can be daunting, due to the limited availability of tools and knowledge from previous literature. This review aims at providing a valuable source of molecular and cellular insights into the biology of lesser-studied PD-linked endo-lysosomal genes, to help and encourage researchers in filling the knowledge gap around these less popular genetic players. Specific endo-lysosomal pathways discussed range from endocytosis, sorting, and vesicular trafficking to the regulation of membrane lipids of these membrane-bound organelles and the specific enzymatic activities they contain. We also provide perspectives on future challenges that the community needs to tackle and propose approaches to move forward in our understanding of these poorly studied endo-lysosomal genes. This will help harness their potential in designing innovative and efficient treatments to ultimately re-establish neuronal homeostasis in PD but also other diseases involving endo-lysosomal dysfunction.

Genetic Evidence for Endolysosomal Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease: A Critical Overview

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the aging population, and no disease-modifying therapy has been approved to date. The pathogenesis of PD has been related to many dysfunctional cellular mechanisms, however, most of its monogenic forms are caused by pathogenic variants in genes involved in endolysosomal function (LRRK2, VPS35, VPS13C, and ATP13A2) and synaptic vesicle trafficking (SNCA, RAB39B, SYNJ1, and DNAJC6). Moreover, an extensive search for PD risk variants revealed strong risk variants in several lysosomal genes (e.g., GBA1, SMPD1, TMEM175, and SCARB2) highlighting the key role of lysosomal dysfunction in PD pathogenesis. Furthermore, large genetic studies revealed that PD status is associated with the overall “lysosomal genetic burden”, namely the cumulative effect of strong and weak risk variants affecting lysosomal genes. In this context, understanding the complex mechanisms of impaired vesicular trafficking and dysfunctional endolysosomes in dopaminergic neurons of PD patients is a fundamental step to identifying precise therapeutic targets and developing effective drugs to modify the neurodegenerative process in PD.

Relationship between polymorphism of receptor SCARB2 gene and clinical severity of enterovirus-71 associated hand-foot-mouth disease

BACKGROUND

To investigate the relationship between polymorphism of scavenger receptor class B member 2 (SCARB2) gene and clinical severity of enterovirus (EV)-71 associated hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD).

METHODS

Among the 100 recruited cases, 56 were in the severe HFMD group (case group) and 44 were in the general HFMD group (control group). By screening functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and hot SNPs, and performing SNP site optimization, some SNP sites of SCARB2 gene were selected for analysis. Genotyping was performed using a MassArray platform. PLINK software was used for statistical processing and analysis of the correlation differences between the mutant genotypes in the severe and general HFMD groups. The relationship between the SNPs and clinical severity of enterovirus (EV)-71 associated HFMD was assessed.

RESULTS

28 SNPs in SCARB2 were selected by site optimization. Then three loci were not in agreement with the minor allele frequency (MAF) in the 1000 Han Chinese in Beijing (CHB) dataset. Another three loci could not be detected. Nine loci were not suitable for further analysis (MAF < 0.01 and Hardy-Weinberg [HWE] P < 0.001). A total of 13 sites were subsequently analyzed. Through Fisher analysis, the frequency of the rs6812193 T allele was 0.134 and 0.034 in the severe and general HFMD groups, respectively (P 0.023 < 0.05, odds ratio [OR] 4.381 > 1). Logistic regression analysis of rs6812193 T alleles between the severe and general HFMD groups, respectively (P 0.023 < 0.05, OR 4.412 > 1, L95 1.210 > 1). Genotype logistic regression analysis of the rs6812193 alleles CT + TT versus CC gave an OR of 4.56 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.22-17.04, P = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

The rs6812193 T allele was a susceptibility SNP for SHFMD, and the rs6812193 polymorphism might be significantly associated with the susceptibility to EV-71 infection.

Fibroblasts from idiopathic Parkinson's disease exhibit deficiency of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase activity associated with reduced levels of the trafficking receptor LIMP2

Lysosomal dysfunction is a central pathway associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. Haploinsufficiency of the lysosomal hydrolase GBA (encoding glucocerebrosidase (GCase)) is one of the largest genetic risk factors for developing PD. Deficiencies in the activity of the GCase enzyme have been observed in human tissues from both genetic (harboring mutations in the GBA gene) and idiopathic forms of the disease. To understand the mechanisms behind the deficits of lysosomal GCase enzyme activity in idiopathic PD, this study utilized a large cohort of fibroblast cells from control subjects and PD patients with and without mutations in the GBA gene (N370S mutation) (control, n = 15; idiopathic PD, n = 31; PD with GBA N370S mutation, n = 6). The current data demonstrates that idiopathic PD fibroblasts devoid of any mutations in the GBA gene also exhibit reduction in lysosomal GCase activity, similar to those with the GBA N370S mutation. This reduced GCase enzyme activity in idiopathic PD cells was accompanied by decreased expression of the GBA trafficking receptor, LIMP2, and increased ER retention of the GBA protein in these cells. Importantly, in idiopathic PD fibroblasts LIMP2 protein levels correlated significantly with GCase activity, which was not the case in control subjects or in genetic PD GBA N370S cells. In conclusion, idiopathic PD fibroblasts have decreased GCase activity primarily driven by altered LIMP2-mediated transport of GBA to lysosome and the reduced GCase activity exhibited by  the genetic GBA N370S derived PD fibroblasts occurs through a different mechanism.

Genetics variants and expression of the SCARB2 gene in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease in Russia

Lysosomal integral membrane protein-2 (LIMP-2), encoded by the SCARB2 gene, is the specific lysosomal receptor for glucocerebrosidase enzyme. Association between rs6812193 and rs68250047 of SCARB2 with PD has been shown in genetic studies, including large genome-wide association studies. The aim of the current study was to determine whether rs6812193 and rs8475 are associated with PD in Russia. rs6812193 and rs8475 were genotyped in a total of 604 PD patients (65 PD patients with positive (fPD) and 539 PD patients with negative family history (sPD)) and 413 controls and also in 17 patients with PD associated with GBA mutations (PD-GBA) and 18 asymptomatic GBA mutation carriers (GBA-Carriers). SCARB2 expression was measured by real-time PCR in CD45+ blood cells in part of individuals in the studied groups. No linkage disequilibrium was shown between rs6812193 and rs8475 in Russian population. Increased PD risk for TT variant of rs8475 (OR = 2.02; p < 0.001) was found in sPD patients but not in fPD. rs6812193 and rs8475 were not associated with age at onset (AAO) of PD. SCARB2 expression level was decreased in GBA-PD patients and GBA-Carriers compared to PD patients (padjusted = 0.02, padjusted = 0.003, respectively) and GBA-Carriers compared to controls (padjusted = 0.013) with no significant difference in PD patients and controls. SCARB2 expression was not modified with rs6812193 and rs8475. In conclusion, rs8475 was associated with PD status. rs6812193 and rs8475 are not genetic modifier of AAO of PD and do not influence on SCARB2 mRNA level in CD45+ blood cells in studied groups. SCARB2 expression could be modified with GBA mutations and is independent of PD status.

SCARB2 variants and glucocerebrosidase activity in Parkinson's disease

Mutations in glucocerebrosidase (GBA) are a common risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). The scavenger receptor class B member 2 (SCARB2) gene encodes a receptor responsible for the transport of glucocerebrosidase (GCase) to the lysosome. Two common SNPs in linkage disequilibrium with SCARB2, rs6812193 and rs6825004, have been associated with PD and Lewy Body Disease in genome-wide association studies. Whether these SNPs are associated with altered glucocerebrosidase enzymatic activity is unknown. Our objective was to determine whether SCARB2 SNPs are associated with PD and with reduced GCase activity. The GBA gene was fully sequenced, and the LRRK2 G2019S and SCARB2 rs6812193 and rs6825004 SNPs were genotyped in 548 PD patients and 272 controls. GCase activity in dried blood spots was measured by tandem mass spectrometry. We tested the association between SCARB2 genotypes and PD risk in regression models adjusted for gender, age, and LRRK2 G2019S and GBA mutation status. We compared GCase activity between participants with different genotypes at rs6812193 and rs6825004. Genotype at rs6812193 was associated with PD status. PD cases were less likely to carry the T allele than the C allele (OR=0.71; P=0.004), but GCase enzymatic activity was similar across rs6812193 genotypes (C/C: 11.88 μmol/l/h; C/T: 11.80 μmol/l/h; T/T: 12.02 μmol/l/h; P=0.867). Genotype at rs6825004 was not associated with either PD status or GCase activity. In conclusion, our results support an association between SCARB2 genotype at rs6812193 and PD, but suggest that the increased risk is not mediated by GCase activity.

Autophagy and Alpha-Synuclein: Relevance to Parkinson's Disease and Related Synucleopathies

Evidence from human postmortem material, transgenic mice, and cellular/animal models of PD link alpha-synuclein accumulation to alterations in the autophagy lysosomal pathway. Conversely, alpha-synuclein mutations related to PD pathogenesis, as well as post-translational modifications of the wild-type protein, result in the generation of aberrant species that may impair further the function of the autophagy lysosomal pathway, thus generating a vicious cycle leading to neuronal death. Moreover, PD-linked mutations in lysosomal-related genes, such as glucocerebrosidase, have been also shown to contribute to alpha-synuclein accumulation and related toxicity, indicating that lysosomal dysfunction may, in part, account for the neurodegeneration observed in synucleinopathies. In the current review, we summarize findings related to the inter-relationship between alpha-synuclein and lysosomal proteolytic pathways, focusing especially on recent experimental strategies based on the manipulation of the autophagy lysosomal pathway to counteract alpha-synuclein-mediated neurotoxicity in vivo. Pinpointing the factors that regulate alpha-synuclein association to the lysosome may represent potential targets for therapeutic interventions in PD and related synucleinopathies.

No association of FAM47E rs6812193, SCARB2 rs6825004 and STX1B rs4889603 polymorphisms with Parkinson's disease in a Chinese Han population

Recently, a series of studies found that the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs6812193 in the family with sequence similarity 47, member E (FAM47E), rs6825004 in the scavenger receptor class B member 2 (SCARB2) and rs4889603 in the Syntaxin1B (STX1B) genes increase the risk for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the results of subsequent independent studies were inconsistent. To explore the associations between the three SNPs and PD in the Chinese population, a large cohort was analyzed in a case-control study. A total of 1994 subjects, including 1179 PD and 815 healthy controls (HCs), were investigated. All subjects were genotyped for rs6812193, rs6825004 and rs4889603 using the Sequenom iPLEX Assay. There was no significant difference in additive genetic model of rs6812193, rs6825004 and rs4889603 between PD and controls, even after being stratified by sex and age. In addition, no significant differences were found between other subgroups of PD patients with regard to clinical presentation. Our findings suggested that FAM47E rs6812193, SCARB2 rs6825004 and STX1B rs4889603 do not confer a significant risk for PD in Chinese population.

Association between rs6812193 polymorphism and sporadic Parkinson's disease susceptibility

Recently, the association of a single nucleotide polymorphism rs6812193 C/T with sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) susceptibility has been widely evaluated, but the results remained inconsistent. This association should be clarified because of the importance of it on human health and quality of life. We performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to evaluate the association between the rs6812193 polymorphism and sporadic PD. PubMed was used to retrieve articles published up to June 2014 for all studies evaluating the rs6812193 polymorphism and PD in humans. Ethnicity-specific subgroup analysis was also performed based on ethnicity susceptibility. A total of 17 independent study samples (15 Caucasians and 2 Asians) including 17,956 cases and 52,751 controls were used in the presented study. The MAFT (minor allele T frequency) in PD patients of European descent is obviously higher than Asian cases (p < 0.01). The results suggested the rs6812193 polymorphism (allele T vs. C) is significantly associated with PD susceptibility among overall samples (OR 0.882, 95 % CI 0.856-0.908) and Caucasian population (OR 0.881, 95 % CI 0.856-0.907), but not in Asian samples (OR 0.918, 95 % CI 0.721-1.168). No evidence of publication bias was observed. Throughout our analysis, the rs6812193 polymorphism is significantly associated with sporadic PD susceptibility in Caucasian samples, and ethnicity might be the key point of inconsistency in rs6812193 studies. Further studies are warranted to re-examine the observed associations, especially in different ethnicities.

Glucocerebrosidase is shaking up the synucleinopathies

The lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase, encoded by the glucocerebrosidase gene, is involved in the breakdown of glucocerebroside into glucose and ceramide. Lysosomal build-up of the substrate glucocerebroside occurs in cells of the reticulo-endothelial system in patients with Gaucher disease, a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by the recessively inherited deficiency of glucocerebrosidase. Gaucher disease has a broad clinical phenotypic spectrum, divided into non-neuronopathic and neuronopathic forms. Like many monogenic diseases, the correlation between clinical manifestations and molecular genotype is not straightforward. There is now a well-established clinical association between mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene and the development of more prevalent multifactorial disorders including Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. In this review we discuss recent studies advancing our understanding of the cellular relationship between glucocerebrosidase and α-synuclein, the potential impact of established and emerging therapeutics for Gaucher disease for the treatment of the synucleinopathies, and the role of lysosomal pathways in the pathogenesis of these neurodegenerative disorders.

Lysosomal integral membrane protein-2: a new player in lysosome-related pathology

Lysosomes require the presence of many specialized proteins to facilitate their roles in cellular maintenance. One such protein that has proven to be an important player in the lysosomal field is lysosomal integral membrane protein-2 (LIMP-2), encoded by the gene SCARB2. LIMP-2 is required for the normal biogenesis and maintenance of lysosomes and endosomes and has been identified as the specific receptor for glucocerebrosidase, the enzyme deficient in Gaucher disease. Research into LIMP-2 and the SCARB2 gene indicate that it may be a factor contributing to the clinical heterogeneity seen among patients with Gaucher disease. Mutations in SCARB2 have also been identified as the cause of action myoclonus renal failure (AMRF), and in some cases progressive myoclonic epilepsy. A total of 14 disease-causing SCARB2 mutations have been identified to date. The role of LIMP-2 in human pathology has expanded with its identification as a component of the intercalated disk in cardiac muscle and as a receptor for specific enteroviruses, two unanticipated findings that reaffirm the myriad roles of lysosomal proteins. Studies into the full impact of LIMP-2 deficiency and the LIMP2/glucocerebrosidase molecular pathway will lead to a better understanding of disease pathogenesis in Gaucher disease and AMRF, and to new insights into lysosomal processing, trafficking and function.

Association study of rs6812193 polymorphism with Parkinson's disease in a Greek population

In a recent web based genome-wide association study (GWA) the rs6812193 polymorphism was identified as a new risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). The purpose of our study was to examine the association of the rs6812193 polymorphism with Parkinson's disease (PD) in case-control association study of Greek individuals. We studied a total of 343 individuals, 210 Greek patients with sporadic PD and 133 control subjects, using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. We found no differences in genotype or allele frequencies between PD patients and controls (P=0.795 and P=0.892, respectively), suggesting that the rs6812193 polymorphism does not increase susceptibility to PD in the Greek population. Additional studies further investigating the association of the rs6812193 polymorphism with PD are needed in order to clarify the role of this polymorphism in different ethnicities.

Is Parkinson disease associated with lysosomal integral membrane protein type-2?: challenges in interpreting association data

Several genetic risk factors have been identified for Parkinson disease (PD), including mutations in glucocerebrosidase (GBA1). Recently, two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) described as SCARB2 SNPs were reported to be associated with PD. SCARB2 is an attractive candidate gene for PD as it encodes for lysosomal integral membrane protein type 2 (LIMP-2), a protein involved in transporting glucocerebrosidase from the ER to the lysosome. The first SNP, rs6812193, located 64 kb upstream of SCARB2, was identified in a Parkinson disease Genome Wide Association study of Americans with European ancestry (p = 7.6 × 10(-10), OR = 0.84), but was not replicated in a study in the Han Chinese. The second SNP, rs6825004, located within intron 2 of SCARB2 was reported in an association study of Parkinson disease in Greece (p = 0.02, OR = 0.68). We explored whether the two SNPs impact SCARB2 expression or LIMP-2 protein levels, testing fifteen control samples. First, the genotypes for each subject were determined for both SNPs using a Taqman assay. Then, RNA and protein were extracted from the corresponding cell pellets. Neither the relative RNA expression by real-time PCR, nor LIMP-2 levels on Western blots correlated with SNP genotype. Thus, these two reported SNPs may not be related to SCARB2 and demonstrate the challenges in interpreting some association studies. While LIMP-2 could still play a role in PD pathogenesis, this study does not provide evidence that the SNPs identified are in fact related to LIMP-2.

Angiogenin variants are not associated with Parkinson's disease in the ethnic Chinese population

Recently, the angiogenin gene has been reported to be significantly associated with Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in populations of European and American ancestry. But there have been no studies investigating the association between angiogenin and Parkinson's disease in the ethnic Chinese population. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the association between angiogenin and Parkinson's disease in a Chinese population from mainland China. We sequenced the exons of angiogenin in 532 Parkinson's disease patients and 480 controls. We did not detect an angiogenin coding region mutation in either the patients or the controls. Our data do not support the association of angiogenin variants with PD in Han Chinese of mainland China.