Integrative brain transcriptome analysis links complement component 4 and HSPA2 to the APOE ε2 protective effect in Alzheimer disease

Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Oct;26(10):6054-6064. doi: 10.1038/s41380-021-01266-z. Epub 2021 Sep 3.

Abstract

Mechanisms underlying the protective effect of apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε2 against Alzheimer disease (AD) are not well understood. We analyzed gene expression data derived from autopsied brains donated by 982 individuals including 135 APOE ɛ2/ɛ3 carriers. Complement pathway genes C4A and C4B were among the most significantly differentially expressed genes between ɛ2/ɛ3 AD cases and controls. We also identified an APOE ε2/ε3 AD-specific co-expression network enriched for astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells containing the genes C4A, C4B, and HSPA2. These genes were significantly associated with the ratio of phosphorylated tau at position 231 to total Tau but not with amyloid-β 42 level, suggesting this APOE ɛ2 related co-expression network may primarily be involved with tau pathology. HSPA2 expression was oligodendrocyte-specific and significantly associated with C4B protein. Our findings provide the first evidence of a crucial role of the complement pathway in the protective effect of APOE ε2 for AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
  • Apolipoprotein E2* / genetics
  • Brain
  • Complement C4* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genotype
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* / genetics
  • Humans

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein E2
  • Complement C4
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HSPA2 protein, human

Grants and funding