Identifying Alzheimer’s Disease Causal Variants and Target Genes Using iPSC-derived Microglia

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Project Abstract Treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease have been elusive, in large part because the molecular mecha- nisms underlying AD remain unclear. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncovered genomic loci associated with increased risk of AD; however, the exact causal variants within these loci and the genes they affect have been difficult to determine. While many lines of evidence suggest that these variants alter transcriptional regulatory networks in microglia, primary human microglia are hard to acquire and intrac- table for many genome-editing, genomic, and high-throughput technologies. The overall objective of this proposal is to determine how AD causal SNPs alter microglia regulatory networks. Using microglia derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, we will define transcriptional regulatory networks in resting and activated microglia (Aim 1), identify the causal SNPs within each AD GWAS locus (Aim 2), and determine the genes affected by AD-associated SNPs (Aim 3). Accomplishment of the goals set forth here will establish a cell culture model of microglial response to AD stimuli, determine the causal AD variants at each GWAS locus, and identify the genes impacted by AD-associated SNPs. These results will have a positive impact because they will identify the key genes involved in AD pathogenicity, providing a foundation for further studies towards the development of tools to diagnose, prognose, and treat AD.