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Dai Y, Jia P, Zhao Z, Gottlieb A. A Method for Bridging Population-Specific Genotypes to Detect Gene Modules Associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:2219. [PMID: 35883662 PMCID: PMC9319087 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genome-wide association studies have successfully identified variants associated with multiple conditions. However, generalizing discoveries across diverse populations remains challenging due to large variations in genetic composition. Methods that perform gene expression imputation have attempted to address the transferability of gene discoveries across populations, but with limited success. METHODS Here, we introduce a pipeline that combines gene expression imputation with gene module discovery, including a dense gene module search and a gene set variation analysis, to address the transferability issue. Our method feeds association probabilities of imputed gene expression with a selected phenotype into tissue-specific gene-module discovery over protein interaction networks to create higher-level gene modules. RESULTS We demonstrate our method's utility in three case-control studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD) for three different race/ethnic populations (Whites, African descent and Hispanics). We discovered 182 AD-associated genes from gene modules shared between these populations, highlighting new gene modules associated with AD. CONCLUSIONS Our innovative framework has the potential to identify robust discoveries across populations based on gene modules, as demonstrated in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Dai
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Peilin Jia
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Assaf Gottlieb
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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d'Orsi G, Specchio LM. Progressive myoclonus epilepsy in Down syndrome patients with dementia. J Neurol 2014; 261:1584-97. [PMID: 24893590 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-014-7376-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to elucidate the natural history of senile myoclonic epilepsy, a type of myoclonic epilepsy associated with Alzheimer's disease in adult Down syndrome patients. Twelve Down syndrome patients over the age of 40 years with myoclonic epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease underwent clinical, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and neuroradiological study. The kariotypes, APOE polymorphisms, all exons in the PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes, and exons 16 and 17 in the APP gene were determined for all patients. CSF Aβ42, p-tau181, and t-tauAg were determined for two patients. Three main stages appeared during the course of the syndrome. The first stage was characterized by dementia onset (mean age: 51 ± 6.6 years), diffuse EEG abnormalities during sleep, and cerebral atrophy determined using neuroimaging. During the second stage, myoclonic epilepsy manifested (mean age: 51.4 ± 7.2 years) with myoclonic jerks time-locked to diffuse epileptiform abnormalities upon awakening, which was controlled with antiepileptic drugs. During the third stage (mean age: 54.8 ± 7.6 years), myoclonic seizures were replaced with nonepileptic myoclonus, and cerebellar signs, severe dementia, and photosensitivity developed. All patients showed complete trisomy 21. Mutations were ruled out on the APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 genes, and APOE analysis revealed ε3/ε3 homozygosity. CSF biomarkers showed a decrease in Aβ42 and an increase in p-tau181. The natural history of senile myoclonic epilepsy is consistent with progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Chromosome 21 is implicated in its pathophysiology; however, other genetic and/or environmental risk factors cannot be excluded. The absence of the APOE type 4 allele could predict its progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe d'Orsi
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Epilepsy Centre, Clinic of Nervous System Diseases, Ospedali Riuniti Foggia, University of Foggia, Via Luigi Pinto 1, 71100, Foggia, Italy,
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Golanska E, Sieruta M, Corder E, Gresner SM, Pfeffer A, Chodakowska-Zebrowska M, Sobow TM, Klich I, Mossakowska M, Szybinska A, Barcikowska M, Liberski PP. The prion protein M129V polymorphism: longevity and cognitive impairment among Polish centenarians. Prion 2013; 7:244-7. [PMID: 23406923 DOI: 10.4161/pri.23903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The PRNP gene encodes the cellular isoform of prion protein (PrP (c) ). The M129V polymorphism influences the risk of prion diseases and may modulate the rate of neurodegeneration with age. We present the first study of the polymorphism among Polish centenarians. In the control group (n = 165, ages 18 to 56 years) the observed M129V genotype frequencies agreed with those expected according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (MM, MV, VV): 43%, 44%, 13% (HWE p > 0.05). Among centenarians (n = 150, ages 100 to 107) both homozygotes were more common than expected and HWE was rejected: 46%, 37%, 17% (expected 42%, 46%, 13%; HWE p = 0.025). This finding is consistent with a higher mortality rate among heterozygotes. However, the observed allele and genotype frequencies did not differ significantly between the oldest-old and the young controls. The genotypic frequencies were not related to severe cognitive impairment among the centenarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Golanska
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
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Spalletta G, Luca VD, Padovani A, Rozzini L, Perri R, Bruni A, Canonico V, Trequattrini A, Bellelli G, Pettenati C, Pazzelli F, Caltagirone C, Orfei MD. Early onset versus late onset in Alzheimer’s disease: What is the reliable cut-off? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.4236/aad.2013.21005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Schmidt C, Wolff M, von Ahsen N, Zerr I. Alzheimer's disease: genetic polymorphisms and rate of decline. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2012; 33:84-9. [PMID: 22414550 DOI: 10.1159/000336790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM To investigate the influence of established genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease on the speed of disease progression. METHODS Polymorphisms (in ACE, ApoE, BIN1, CLU, CR1, CST3, EXOC3L2, GWA14q32.13, IL8, LDLR, PICALM, TNK1) of 40 Alzheimer's disease patients from a longitudinal study were analyzed. A standardized loss of Mini-Mental State Examination points was used as the progression parameter. RESULTS Polymorphisms in CST3 and EXOC3L2 as well as the absence of APOE4 were associated with more aggressive disease courses. A trend was observed for BIN1. CONCLUSION In addition to being a risk factor for disease development, some of the polymorphisms investigated here are associated with higher rates of decline and disease progression and thus might act as prognostic disease markers. This effect needs to be considered in future treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schmidt
- Department of Neurology, Georg August University Hospital, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, Goettingen, Germany.
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Calero O, Bullido MJ, Clarimón J, Frank-García A, Martínez-Martín P, Lleó A, Rey MJ, Rábano A, Blesa R, Gómez-Isla T, Valdivieso F, de Pedro-Cuesta J, Ferrer I, Calero M. Genetic cross-interaction between APOE and PRNP in sporadic Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22090. [PMID: 21799773 PMCID: PMC3140492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 06/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) represent two distinct clinical entities belonging to a wider group, generically named as conformational disorders that share common pathophysiologic mechanisms. It is well-established that the APOE ε4 allele and homozygosity at polymorphic codon 129 in the PRNP gene are the major genetic risk factors for AD and human prion diseases, respectively. However, the roles of PRNP in AD, and APOE in CJD are controversial. In this work, we investigated for the first time, APOE and PRNP genotypes simultaneously in 474 AD and 175 sporadic CJD (sCJD) patients compared to a common control population of 335 subjects. Differences in genotype distribution between patients and control subjects were studied by logistic regression analysis using age and gender as covariates. The effect size of risk association and synergy factors were calculated using the logistic odds ratio estimates. Our data confirmed that the presence of APOE ε4 allele is associated with a higher risk of developing AD, while homozygosity at PRNP gene constitutes a risk for sCJD. Opposite, we found no association for PRNP with AD, nor for APOE with sCJD. Interestingly, when AD and sCJD patients were stratified according to their respective main risk genes (APOE for AD, and PRNP for sCJD), we found statistically significant associations for the other gene in those strata at higher previous risk. Synergy factor analysis showed a synergistic age-dependent interaction between APOE and PRNP in both AD (SF = 3.59, p = 0.027), and sCJD (SF = 7.26, p = 0.005). We propose that this statistical epistasis can partially explain divergent data from different association studies. Moreover, these results suggest that the genetic interaction between APOE and PRNP may have a biological correlate that is indicative of shared neurodegenerative pathways involved in AD and sCJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Calero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Unidad de Encefalopatías Espongiformes, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CNM-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - María J. Bullido
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Sanitary Research “Hospital la Paz” (IdIPaz), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Clarimón
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Neurology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Frank-García
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Sanitary Research “Hospital la Paz” (IdIPaz), Madrid, Spain
- Neurology Service, Hospital Universitario La Paz (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Martínez-Martín
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, Alzheimer Center Reina Sofia Foundation, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Lleó
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Neurology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Jesús Rey
- Banco de Tejidos Neurológicos Universidad de Barcelona-Hospital Clínico, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Rábano
- Banco de Tejidos de la Fundación CIEN, CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, Alzheimer Center Reina Sofia Foundation, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Blesa
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Neurology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Gómez-Isla
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Neurology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Valdivieso
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Sanitary Research “Hospital la Paz” (IdIPaz), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús de Pedro-Cuesta
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Área de Epidemiologia Aplicada, Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CNM-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Neuropathology (INP), IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, 08907 Hospitalet de LLobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Calero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Unidad de Encefalopatías Espongiformes, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CNM-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Nelson PT, Head E, Schmitt FA, Davis PR, Neltner JH, Jicha GA, Abner EL, Smith CD, Van Eldik LJ, Kryscio RJ, Scheff SW. Alzheimer's disease is not "brain aging": neuropathological, genetic, and epidemiological human studies. Acta Neuropathol 2011; 121:571-87. [PMID: 21516511 PMCID: PMC3179861 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-011-0826-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Revised: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 04/13/2011] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Human studies are reviewed concerning whether "aging"-related mechanisms contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. AD is defined by specific neuropathology: neuritic amyloid plaques and neocortical neurofibrillary tangles. AD pathology is driven by genetic factors related not to aging per se, but instead to the amyloid precursor protein (APP). In contrast to genes involved in APP-related mechanisms, there is no firm connection between genes implicated in human "accelerated aging" diseases (progerias) and AD. The epidemiology of AD in advanced age is highly relevant but deceptively challenging to address given the low autopsy rates in most countries. In extreme old age, brain diseases other than AD approximate AD prevalence while the impact of AD pathology appears to peak by age 95 and decline thereafter. Many distinct brain diseases other than AD afflict older human brains and contribute to cognitive impairment. Additional prevalent pathologies include cerebrovascular disease and hippocampal sclerosis, both high-morbidity brain diseases that appear to peak in incidence later than AD chronologically. Because of these common brain diseases of extreme old age, the epidemiology differs between clinical "dementia" and the subset of dementia cases with AD pathology. Additional aging-associated mechanisms for cognitive decline such as diabetes and synapse loss have been linked to AD and these hypotheses are discussed. Criteria are proposed to define an "aging-linked" disease, and AD fails all of these criteria. In conclusion, it may be most fruitful to focus attention on specific pathways involved in AD rather than attributing it to an inevitable consequence of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter T Nelson
- Department of Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0230, USA.
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Abstract
The relationship between Alzheimer disease (AD) and prion-related encephalopathies (TSE) has been proposed by different points of view. Recently, the scientific attention has been attracted by the results proposing the possibility that PrPc, the protein whose pathologic form is responsible of TSE, can mediated the toxic effect of β amyloid (Aβ) oligomers. The oligomers are considered the culprit of the neurodegenerative process associated to AD, although the pathogenic mechanism activated by these small aggregates remain to be elucidated. In the initial study based on the binding screening PrPc was identified as ligand /receptor of Aβ oligomers, while long term potentiation (LTP) analysis in vitro and behavioural studies in vivo, demonstrated that the absence of PrPc abolished the damage induced by Aβ oligomers. The high affinity binding Aβ oligomers-PrPc has been confirmed, whereas a functional role of this association has been excluded by three different studies. We approached this issue by the direct application of Aβ oligomers in the brain followed by the behavioural examination of memory deficits. Our data using PrP knock-out mice suggest that Aβ 1-42 oligomers are responsible for cognitive impairment in AD but PrPc is not required for their effect. Similarly, in two other studies the LTP alterations induced by Aβ 1-42 oligomers was not influenced by the absence of PrP. Possible explanations of these contradictory results are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluigi Forloni
- Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milano, Italy
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