Pleiotropy analysis between lobar intracerebral hemorrhage and CSF β-amyloid highlights new and established associations
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background and aims: Combining biologically related traits in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) increases the power for genetic discovery. Given the established relationship between lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and between the latter and levels of cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-β 42 (CSF-Aβ42), we leveraged genetic predisposition for lower CSF-Aβ42 levels as a proxy phenotype for CAA to identify new genes associated with lobar ICH. Methods: We used publicly available GWAS data for CSF-Aβ42 levels (n = 3146) and for lobar ICH (n = 2094). First, we evaluated the association between lobar ICH risk and CSF-Aβ42 in lobar ICH patients using a polygenic risk score (PRS) for CSF-Aβ42. Next, we conducted multi-trait analysis of GWAS (MTAG) for pleiotropy analysis of lobar ICH and CSF-Aβ42. MTAG results were further tested using Expression Quantitative Trait Locus and Differential Gene Expression Analyses. Results: CSF-Aβ42 PRS was associated with lobar ICH risk (p = 0.04). MTAG analysis identified a novel association within CDH9 (rs1007589; minor allele frequency = 0.09; MTAG p = 5.4 × 10 −8 ; lobar ICH odds ratio = 1.4 and p = 2.4 × 10 −3 ; CSF-Aβ42 β = −0.03 and p = 4.5 × 10 −6 ). rs1007589 was significantly associated with the expression levels of CDH9 in temporal and occipital cortices, regions known to preferentially accumulate microhemorrhages in CAA. Conclusion: Our pleiotropy analysis suggested a variant possibly implicated with lobar ICH driven by amyloid-related mechanisms in CDH9 and associated with differential expression in brain regions characteristically affected by CAA. CDH9 is one subtype of the cadherin superfamily, which regulates intercellular adhesion, is involved in blood-brain barrier integrity, and is elevated in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Further analyses are warranted to understand the effects of the variant on the pathogenesis of ICH and its clinical significance.
Source: International Journal of Stroke
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,000
Awards: Sequencing Annotation and Functional Analysis in Risk of Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Alzheimer Disease Genetic Architecture in African Americans, Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium, Genetic Studies of Alzheimer Disease in Koreans, Genomic and Biological Studies of APOE ε2 in Alzheimer Disease, Precision Monitoring and Assessment in the Framingham Study: Cognitive, MRI, Genetic and Biomarker Precursors of AD & Dementia, Genetic Analyses of Lipids in Cerebral Hemorrhage and Small Vessel Disease
OpenAlex ID: W4318220417