Genome-wide association study of brain biochemical phenotypes reveals distinct genetic architecture of Alzheimer’s Disease related proteins

Abstract

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is neuropathologically characterized by amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Main protein components of these hallmarks include Aβ40, Aβ42, tau, phospho-tau and APOE. With the exception of the APOE-ε4 variant, genetic risk factors associated with brain biochemical measures of these proteins have yet to be characterized. We performed a genome-wide association study in brains of 441 AD patients for quantitative levels of these proteins collected from three distinct fractions reflecting soluble, membrane-bound and insoluble biochemical states. We identified 123 genome-wide significant associations at seven novel loci and the APOE locus. Genes and variants at these loci also associate with multiple AD- related measures, regulate gene expression, have cell-type specific enrichment, and roles in brain health and other neuropsychiatric diseases. Pathway analysis identified significant enrichment of shared and distinct biological pathways. Although all biochemical measures tested reflect proteins core to AD pathology, our results strongly suggest that each have unique genetic architecture and biological pathways that influence their specific biochemical states in the brain. Our novel approach of deep brain biochemical endophenotype GWAS has implications for pathophysiology of proteostasis in AD that can guide therapeutic discovery efforts focused on these proteins.