Genome-wide meta-analysis, fine-mapping and integrative prioritization implicate new Alzheimer's disease risk genes

Nat Genet. 2021 Mar;53(3):392-402. doi: 10.1038/s41588-020-00776-w. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies have discovered numerous genomic loci associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD); yet the causal genes and variants are incompletely identified. We performed an updated genome-wide AD meta-analysis, which identified 37 risk loci, including new associations near CCDC6, TSPAN14, NCK2 and SPRED2. Using three SNP-level fine-mapping methods, we identified 21 SNPs with >50% probability each of being causally involved in AD risk and others strongly suggested by functional annotation. We followed this with colocalization analyses across 109 gene expression quantitative trait loci datasets and prioritization of genes by using protein interaction networks and tissue-specific expression. Combining this information into a quantitative score, we found that evidence converged on likely causal genes, including the above four genes, and those at previously discovered AD loci, including BIN1, APH1B, PTK2B, PILRA and CASS4.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Microglia / physiology
  • Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Protein Interaction Maps / genetics
  • Quantitative Trait Loci
  • Risk Factors
  • Tetraspanins / genetics

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CCDC6 protein, human
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • NCK2 protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • TSPAN14 protein, human
  • Tetraspanins