Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a precursor to Alzheimer's disease (AD), but not all MCI patients develop AD. Biomarkers for early detection of individuals at high risk for MCI-to-AD conversion are urgently required.Methods
We used blood-based microRNA expression profiles and genomic data of 197 Japanese MCI patients to construct a prognosis prediction model based on a Cox proportional hazard model. We examined the biological significance of our findings with single nucleotide polymorphism-microRNA pairs (miR-eQTLs) by focusing on the target genes of the miRNAs. We investigated functional modules from the target genes with the occurrence of hub genes though a large-scale protein-protein interaction network analysis. We further examined the expression of the genes in 610 blood samples (271 ADs, 248 MCIs, and 91 cognitively normal elderly subjects [CNs]).Results
The final prediction model, composed of 24 miR-eQTLs and three clinical factors (age, sex, and APOE4 alleles), successfully classified MCI patients into low and high risk of MCI-to-AD conversion (log-rank test P?=?3.44?×?10-4 and achieved a concordance index of 0.702 on an independent test set. Four important hub genes associated with AD pathogenesis (SHC1, FOXO1, GSK3B, and PTEN) were identified in a network-based meta-analysis of miR-eQTL target genes. RNA-seq data from 610 blood samples showed statistically significant differences in PTEN expression between MCI and AD and in SHC1 expression between CN and AD (PTEN, P?=?0.023; SHC1, P?=?0.049).Conclusions
Our proposed model was demonstrated to be effective in MCI-to-AD conversion prediction. A network-based meta-analysis of miR-eQTL target genes identified important hub genes associated with AD pathogenesis. Accurate prediction of MCI-to-AD conversion would enable earlier intervention for MCI patients at high risk, potentially reducing conversion to AD.
SUBMITTER: Shigemizu D
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7656734 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Shigemizu Daichi D Akiyama Shintaro S Higaki Sayuri S Sugimoto Taiki T Sakurai Takashi T Boroevich Keith A KA Sharma Alok A Tsunoda Tatsuhiko T Ochiya Takahiro T Niida Shumpei S Ozaki Kouichi K
Alzheimer's research & therapy 20201110 1
<h4>Background</h4>Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a precursor to Alzheimer's disease (AD), but not all MCI patients develop AD. Biomarkers for early detection of individuals at high risk for MCI-to-AD conversion are urgently required.<h4>Methods</h4>We used blood-based microRNA expression profiles and genomic data of 197 Japanese MCI patients to construct a prognosis prediction model based on a Cox proportional hazard model. We examined the biological significance of our findings with single ...[more]