Publication
Title
Novel Alzheimer risk genes determine the microglia response to amyloid-β but not to TAU pathology
Author
Abstract
Polygenic risk scores have identified that genetic variants without genome-wide significance still add to the genetic risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whether and how subthreshold risk loci translate into relevant disease pathways is unknown. We investigate here the involvement of AD risk variants in the transcriptional responses of two mouse models: APPswe/PS1(L166P) and Thy-TAU22. A unique gene expression module, highly enriched for AD risk genes, is specifically responsive to A beta but not TAU pathology. We identify in this module 7 established AD risk genes (APOE, CLU, INPP5D, CD33, PLCG2, SPI1, and FCER1G) and 11 AD GWAS genes below the genome-wide significance threshold (GPC2, TREML2, SYK, GRN, SLC2A5, SAMSN1, PYDC1, HEXB, RRBP1, LYN, and BLNK), that become significantly upregulated when exposed to A beta. Single microglia sequencing confirms that A beta, not TAU, pathology induces marked transcriptional changes in microglia, including increased proportions of activated microglia. We conclude that genetic risk of AD functionally translates into different microglia pathway responses to A beta pathology, placing AD genetic risk downstream of the amyloid pathway but upstream of TAU pathology.
Language
English
Source (journal)
EMBO molecular medicine. - -
Publication
2020
ISSN
1757-4676
1757-4684
Volume/pages
12 :3 (2020) , 18 p.
Article Reference
e10606
ISI
000519251300003
Pubmed ID
31951107
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Research group
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 07.12.2020
Last edited 22.08.2023
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