Brain regional and cell type-specific chromatin changes among sporadic, GBA1 variant, and APOE E4 Parkinson’s Disease
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves myriad genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors that make the identification of effective therapeutic targets challenging. We leverage a novel, validated AI approach to identify cell type- and brain region-specific epigenomic features in 6 brain regions from 35 individuals with varying genetic risk for PD as well as clinical and pathological controls (CTRL, n=15). We observed that astrocytes of substantia nigra (SUNI) are the major regional and cellular site of differentially accessible regions (DARs) between sporadic PD (SPOR_PD+, n=15) and GBA1 mutation-carriers with PD (GBA1_PD+, n=16); Seven of these SUNI DARs not only fully separated SPOR_PD+ from GBA1_PD+ cases but could also fully separate LRRK2 mutation carriers with PD from these other two forms of PD (n=3). Molecular estimation of PD progression, which correlated with the progression of neuropathologic stage, reveals that chromatin differences between SPOR_PD+ and GBA1_PD+ increase along the predicted disease progression, with broad cell type significant differences in epigenomic profiles at predicted later stages of the disease. Having APOE 4 (n=14 cases) was shown to affect various cell types mainly in the superior and middle temporal gyrus and substantial nigra. Using a multicellular co-accessibility network analysis, we identify neuron-specific epigenomic modules that correlate with the presence of at least one APOE 4 and the increase of PD pathological and clinical phenotypes. Our results suggest that APOE 4 could contribute to PD pathogenesis through chromatin change in neural cells related to synaptic and neuronal projection processes. This study expands our understanding of genetic risk effects in Parkinson's disease and provides a blueprint framework for investigating the cellular basis of genetic risk effects in disease.
Project description:The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is the strongest genetic risk modifier for Alzheimer's disease (AD), with the APOE4 allele increasing risk and APOE2 decreasing it compared to the common APOE3 allele. Using single-nuclei RNA sequencing of the temporal cortex from APOE2 carriers, APOE3 homozygotes, and APOE4 carriers, we found that AD-associated transcriptomic changes were highly APOE genotype-dependent. Comparing AD with controls, APOE2 carriers showed upregulated synaptic and myelination-related pathways, preserving synapses and myelination at the protein level. Conversely, these pathways were downregulated in APOE3 homozygotes, resulting in reduced synaptic and myelination proteins. In APOE4 carriers, excitatory neurons displayed reduced synaptic pathways similar to APOE3, but oligodendrocytes showed upregulated myelination pathways like APOE2. However, their synaptic and myelination protein levels remained unchanged or increased. APOE4 carriers also showed increased pro-inflammatory signatures in microglia but reduced responses to amyloid-β pathology. These findings reveal APOE genotype-specific molecular alterations in AD across cell types.
Project description:APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increased odds ratios in females. Targeting amyloid plaques show modest improvement in male non-APOE4 carriers. Leveraging transcriptomics across APOE variants in both sexes, multiplex flow cytometry and validation in two independent cohorts of APOE4 female AD patients, we identify a new subset of neutrophils associated with cognitive impairment. This phenotype is defined by increased IL-17 and IL-1 co-expressed gene modules in blood neutrophils of cognitively impaired female APOE e4 carriers, showing increased infiltration to the AD brain. APOE4 female IL-17+ neutrophils upregulated the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGFb, and immune checkpoints including LAG-3 and PD-1, associated with accelerated immune aging. Deletion of APOE4 in neutrophils reduced this immunosuppressive phenotype and restored microglial response to neurodegeneration (MGnD), limiting plaque pathology in AD mice. Mechanistically, IL-17Fupregulated in APOE4 neutrophils interacts with microglial IL-17RA to suppress the induction of MGnD phenotype, and blocking this axis supported cognitive improvement in AD mice. These findings provide a translational basis to target IL-17F in APOE e4 female carriers with cognitive impairment.
Project description:APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increased odds ratios in females. Targeting amyloid plaques show modest improvement in male non-APOE4 carriers. Leveraging transcriptomics across APOE variants in both sexes, multiplex flow cytometry and validation in two independent cohorts of APOE4 female AD patients, we identify a new subset of neutrophils associated with cognitive impairment. This phenotype is defined by increased IL-17 and IL-1 co-expressed gene modules in blood neutrophils of cognitively impaired female APOE e4 carriers, showing increased infiltration to the AD brain. APOE4 female IL-17+ neutrophils upregulated the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGFb, and immune checkpoints including LAG-3 and PD-1, associated with accelerated immune aging. Deletion of APOE4 in neutrophils reduced this immunosuppressive phenotype and restored microglial response to neurodegeneration (MGnD), limiting plaque pathology in AD mice. Mechanistically, IL-17Fupregulated in APOE4 neutrophils interacts with microglial IL-17RA to suppress the induction of MGnD phenotype, and blocking this axis supported cognitive improvement in AD mice. These findings provide a translational basis to target IL-17F in APOE e4 female carriers with cognitive impairment.
Project description:APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increased odds ratios in females. Targeting amyloid plaques show modest improvement in male non-APOE4 carriers. Leveraging transcriptomics across APOE variants in both sexes, multiplex flow cytometry and validation in two independent cohorts of APOE4 female AD patients, we identify a new subset of neutrophils associated with cognitive impairment. This phenotype is defined by increased IL-17 and IL-1 co-expressed gene modules in blood neutrophils of cognitively impaired female APOE e4 carriers, showing increased infiltration to the AD brain. APOE4 female IL-17+ neutrophils upregulated the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGFb, and immune checkpoints including LAG-3 and PD-1, associated with accelerated immune aging. Deletion of APOE4 in neutrophils reduced this immunosuppressive phenotype and restored microglial response to neurodegeneration (MGnD), limiting plaque pathology in AD mice. Mechanistically, IL-17Fupregulated in APOE4 neutrophils interacts with microglial IL-17RA to suppress the induction of MGnD phenotype, and blocking this axis supported cognitive improvement in AD mice. These findings provide a translational basis to target IL-17F in APOE e4 female carriers with cognitive impairment.
Project description:APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increased odds ratios in females. Targeting amyloid plaques show modest improvement in male non-APOE4 carriers. Leveraging transcriptomics across APOE variants in both sexes, multiplex flow cytometry and validation in two independent cohorts of APOE4 female AD patients, we identify a new subset of neutrophils associated with cognitive impairment. This phenotype is defined by increased IL-17 and IL-1 co-expressed gene modules in blood neutrophils of cognitively impaired female APOE e4 carriers, showing increased infiltration to the AD brain. APOE4 female IL-17+ neutrophils upregulated the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGFb, and immune checkpoints including LAG-3 and PD-1, associated with accelerated immune aging. Deletion of APOE4 in neutrophils reduced this immunosuppressive phenotype and restored microglial response to neurodegeneration (MGnD), limiting plaque pathology in AD mice. Mechanistically, IL-17Fupregulated in APOE4 neutrophils interacts with microglial IL-17RA to suppress the induction of MGnD phenotype, and blocking this axis supported cognitive improvement in AD mice. These findings provide a translational basis to target IL-17F in APOE e4 female carriers with cognitive impairment.
Project description:APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increased odds ratios in females. Targeting amyloid plaques show modest improvement in male non-APOE4 carriers. Leveraging transcriptomics across APOE variants in both sexes, multiplex flow cytometry and validation in two independent cohorts of APOE4 female AD patients, we identify a new subset of neutrophils associated with cognitive impairment. This phenotype is defined by increased IL-17 and IL-1 co-expressed gene modules in blood neutrophils of cognitively impaired female APOE e4 carriers, showing increased infiltration to the AD brain. APOE4 female IL-17+ neutrophils upregulated the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGFb, and immune checkpoints including LAG-3 and PD-1, associated with accelerated immune aging. Deletion of APOE4 in neutrophils reduced this immunosuppressive phenotype and restored microglial response to neurodegeneration (MGnD), limiting plaque pathology in AD mice. Mechanistically, IL-17Fupregulated in APOE4 neutrophils interacts with microglial IL-17RA to suppress the induction of MGnD phenotype, and blocking this axis supported cognitive improvement in AD mice. These findings provide a translational basis to target IL-17F in APOE e4 female carriers with cognitive impairment.
Project description:APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increased odds ratios in females. Targeting amyloid plaques show modest improvement in male non-APOE4 carriers. Leveraging transcriptomics across APOE variants in both sexes, multiplex flow cytometry and validation in two independent cohorts of APOE4 female AD patients, we identify a new subset of neutrophils associated with cognitive impairment. This phenotype is defined by increased IL-17 and IL-1 co-expressed gene modules in blood neutrophils of cognitively impaired female APOE e4 carriers, showing increased infiltration to the AD brain. APOE4 female IL-17+ neutrophils upregulated the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGFb, and immune checkpoints including LAG-3 and PD-1, associated with accelerated immune aging. Deletion of APOE4 in neutrophils reduced this immunosuppressive phenotype and restored microglial response to neurodegeneration (MGnD), limiting plaque pathology in AD mice. Mechanistically, IL-17Fupregulated in APOE4 neutrophils interacts with microglial IL-17RA to suppress the induction of MGnD phenotype, and blocking this axis supported cognitive improvement in AD mice. These findings provide a translational basis to target IL-17F in APOE e4 female carriers with cognitive impairment.
Project description:APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increased odds ratios in females. Targeting amyloid plaques show modest improvement in male non-APOE4 carriers. Leveraging single cell transcriptomics across APOE variants in both sexes, multiplex flow cytometry and validation in two independent cohorts of APOE4 female AD patients, we identify a new subset of neutrophils, interacting with microglia associated with cognitive impairment. This phenotype is defined by increased IL-17 and IL-1 co-expressed gene modules in blood neutrophils and in microglia of cognitively impaired female APOE e4 carriers, showing increased infiltration to the AD brain. APOE4 female IL-17+ neutrophils upregulated the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGFb, and immune checkpoints including LAG-3 and PD-1, associated with accelerated immune aging. Deletion of APOE4 in neutrophils reduced this immunosuppressive phenotype and restored microglial response to neurodegeneration (MGnD), limiting plaque pathology in AD mice. Mechanistically, IL-17F upregulated in APOE4 neutrophils interacts with microglial IL-17RA to suppress the induction of MGnD phenotype, and blocking this axis supported cognitive improvement in AD mice. These findings provide a translational basis to target IL-17F in APOE e4 female carriers with cognitive impairment.
Project description:APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), with increased odds ratios in females. Targeting amyloid plaques shows modest improvement in male non-APOE4 carriers. Leveraging single-cell transcriptomics across APOE variants in both sexes, multiplex flow cytometry, and validation in two independent cohorts of APOE4 female AD patients, we identify a new subset of neutrophils interacting with microglia associated with cognitive impairment. This phenotype is defined by increased IL-17 and IL-1 co-expressed gene modules in blood neutrophils and in microglia of cognitively impaired female APOE e4 carriers, showing increased infiltration to the AD brain. APOE4 female IL-17+ neutrophils upregulated the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGFB and immune checkpoints, including LAG-3 and PD-1, associated with accelerated immune aging. Deletion of APOE4 in neutrophils reduced this immunosuppressive phenotype and restored the microglial response to neurodegeneration (MGnD), limiting plaque pathology in AD mice. Mechanistically, IL-17F upregulated in APOE4 neutrophils interacts with microglial IL-17RA to suppress the induction of MGnD phenotype, and blocking this axis supported cognitive improvement in AD mice. These findings provide a translational basis to target IL-17F in APOE e4 female carriers with cognitive impairment.
Project description:APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increased odds ratios in females. Targeting amyloid plaques show modest improvement in male non-APOE4 carriers. Leveraging transcriptomics across APOE variants in both sexes, multiplex flow cytometry and validation in two independent cohorts of APOE4 female AD patients, we identify a new subset of neutrophils associated with cognitive impairment. This phenotype is defined by increased IL-17 and IL-1 co-expressed gene modules in blood neutrophils of cognitively impaired female APOE e4 carriers, showing increased infiltration to the AD brain. APOE4 female IL-17+ neutrophils upregulated the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGFb, and immune checkpoints including LAG-3 and PD-1, associated with accelerated immune aging. Deletion of APOE4 in neutrophils reduced this immunosuppressive phenotype and restored microglial response to neurodegeneration (MGnD), limiting plaque pathology in AD mice. Mechanistically, IL-17Fupregulated in APOE4 neutrophils interacts with microglial IL-17RA to suppress the induction of MGnD phenotype, and blocking this axis supported cognitive improvement in AD mice. These findings provide a translational basis to target IL-17F in APOE e4 female carriers with cognitive impairment.