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PLXNA4 is associated with Alzheimer disease and modulates tau phosphorylation.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:Much of the genetic basis for Alzheimer disease (AD) is unexplained. We sought to identify novel AD loci using a unique family-based approach that can detect robust associations with infrequent variants (minor allele frequency < 0.10). METHODS:We conducted a genome-wide association study in the Framingham Heart Study (discovery) and NIA-LOAD (National Institute on Aging-Late-Onset Alzheimer Disease) Study (replication) family-based cohorts using an approach that accounts for family structure and calculates a risk score for AD as the outcome. Links between the most promising gene candidate and AD pathogenesis were explored in silico as well as experimentally in cell-based models and in human brain. RESULTS:Genome-wide significant association was identified with a PLXNA4 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs277470) located in a region encoding the semaphorin-3A (SEMA3A) binding domain (meta-analysis p value [meta-P] = 4.1 × 10(-8) ). A test for association with the entire region was also significant (meta-P = 3.2 × 10(-4) ). Transfection of SH-SY5Y cells or primary rat neurons with full-length PLXNA4 (TS1) increased tau phosphorylation with stimulated by SEMA3A. The opposite effect was observed when cells were transfected with shorter isoforms (TS2 and TS3). However, transfection of any isoform into HEK293 cells stably expressing amyloid ? (A?) precursor protein (APP) did not result in differential effects on APP processing or A? production. Late stage AD cases (n = 9) compared to controls (n = 5) had 1.9-fold increased expression of TS1 in cortical brain tissue (p = 1.6 × 10(-4) ). Expression of TS1 was significantly correlated with the Clinical Dementia Rating score (? = 0.75, p = 2.2 × 10(-4) ), plaque density (? = 0.56, p = 0.01), and Braak stage (? = 0.54, p = 0.02). INTERPRETATION:Our results indicate that PLXNA4 has a role in AD pathogenesis through isoform-specific effects on tau phosphorylation.

SUBMITTER: Jun G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4830273 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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PLXNA4 is associated with Alzheimer disease and modulates tau phosphorylation.

Jun Gyungah G Asai Hirohide H Zeldich Ella E Drapeau Elodie E Chen CiDi C Chung Jaeyoon J Park Jong-Ho JH Kim Sehwa S Haroutunian Vahram V Foroud Tatiana T Kuwano Ryozo R Haines Jonathan L JL Pericak-Vance Margaret A MA Schellenberg Gerard D GD Lunetta Kathryn L KL Kim Jong-Won JW Buxbaum Joseph D JD Mayeux Richard R Ikezu Tsuneya T Abraham Carmela R CR Farrer Lindsay A LA

Annals of neurology 20140729 3

<h4>Objective</h4>Much of the genetic basis for Alzheimer disease (AD) is unexplained. We sought to identify novel AD loci using a unique family-based approach that can detect robust associations with infrequent variants (minor allele frequency < 0.10).<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a genome-wide association study in the Framingham Heart Study (discovery) and NIA-LOAD (National Institute on Aging-Late-Onset Alzheimer Disease) Study (replication) family-based cohorts using an approach that accounts ...[more]

PMID: 25043464

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Project description:BackgroundGenetic variation at the PTK2B locus encoding the protein Pyk2 influences Alzheimer's disease risk. Neurons express Pyk2 and the protein is required for Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide driven deficits of synaptic function and memory in mouse models, but Pyk2 deletion has minimal effect on neuro-inflammation. Previous in vitro data suggested that Pyk2 activity might enhance GSK3β-dependent Tau phosphorylation and be required for tauopathy. Here, we examine the influence of Pyk2 on Tau phosphorylation and associated pathology.MethodsThe effect of Pyk2 on Tau phosphorylation was examined in cultured Hek cells through protein over-expression and in iPSC-derived human neurons through pharmacological Pyk2 inhibition. PS19 mice overexpressing the P301S mutant of human Tau were employed as an in vivo model of tauopathy. Phenotypes of PS19 mice with a targeted deletion of Pyk2 expression were compared with PS19 mice with intact Pyk2 expression. Phenotypes examined included Tau phosphorylation, Tau accumulation, synapse loss, gliosis, proteomic profiling and behavior.ResultsOver-expression experiments from Hek293T cells indicated that Pyk2 contributed to Tau phosphorylation, while iPSC-derived human neuronal cultures with endogenous protein levels supported the opposite conclusion. In vivo, multiple phenotypes of PS19 were exacerbated by Pyk2 deletion. In Pyk2-null PS19 mice, Tau phosphorylation and accumulation increased, mouse survival decreased, spatial memory was impaired and hippocampal C1q deposition increased relative to PS19 littermate controls. Proteomic profiles of Pyk2-null mouse brain revealed that several protein kinases known to interact with Tau are regulated by Pyk2. Endogenous Pyk2 suppresses LKB1 and p38 MAPK activity, validating one potential pathway contributing to increased Tau pathology.ConclusionsThe absence of Pyk2 results in greater mutant Tau-dependent phenotypes in PS19 mice, in part via increased LKB1 and MAPK activity. These data suggest that in AD, while Pyk2 activity mediates Aβ-driven deficits, Pyk2 suppresses Tau-related phenotypes.

Dataset Information

PLXNA4 is associated with Alzheimer disease and modulates tau phosphorylation.

Publications

PLXNA4 is associated with Alzheimer disease and modulates tau phosphorylation.

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