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The brain neurovascular epigenome and its association with dementia

ABSTRACT: Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is frequently comorbid with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular brain endothelial cells (BECs) are enriched for the expression of genes associated with AD genetic risk. However, the gene regulatory landscapes of neurovascular cells and their intersection with genetic risk for disease remains unexplored. Here we have generated gene regulomes for human BECs, mural cells and other brain cell types to show that AD heritability is primarily immune-related and that it shows modest enrichment in BECs. By contrast, genetic risk for SVD is enriched across cells of the neurovascular unit, including astrocytes. Enhancer-to-gene interactomes implicate amyloid processes in both AD and SVD, though the risk genes are mostly distinct for the two disorders. Motifs for putative partners of lineage transcription factors in microglia and BECs were enriched for AD and SVD variants at genes linked to disease pathways. Gene prioritization and enrichment analyses further identified potential repurposable drugs for AD. Our findings highlight novel regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic targets within the neurovascular system.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE299072 | GEO | 2025/10/23

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Human APOE genotype is intricately involved in the homeostasis of the central nervous system, which is particularly evident from its association with neurodegenerative disease. Compared to APOE3, APOE4 is associated with greater cognitive decline in aging, poorer outcomes following stroke and traumatic brain injury, and is a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Human APOE genotypes can differentially modulate neuronal function via both direct and indirect pathways. Of the indirect pathways, increasing evidence supports that APOE4-associated neurovascular dysfunction plays a significant role in neurodegeneration. For example, deficits in cerebral blood flow, neuronal-vascular coupling and blood-brain barrier integrity are observed with APOE4 both during aging and in Alzheimer’s disease patients; data that has been recapitulated in mouse models. Therefore, the identification of cellular mechanistic pathways that contribute to APOE-modulated vascular function is important for fundamental and disease-focused research. Highly specialized brain endothelial cells (BECs) are essential for virtually all neurovascular functions and, therefore, the influence of apoE on the cerebrovasculature likely involves alterations in brain endothelial cells function, directly or via supporting cells. ApoE synthesis has been demonstrated in multiple cell types in both the brain (e.g. astrocytes, pericytes and neurons) and periphery (e.g. hepatocytes and macrophages). Current research has largely focused on the effects of apoE produced by supporting cell types, particularly astrocytes and pericytes, on BEC function. However, less explored is whether BECs produce apoE to modulate their function. Data from limited studies on apoE production by BECs and APOE genotype-specific functional differences are conflicting. Evaluation of whether the APOE genotype of BECs modulates their function is important, as this could represent a novel mechanisms that contributes to altered cerebrovascular function in aging and AD. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of human APOE genotype in modulating the phenotype and/or function of brain endothelial cells in vitro. To this end, we utilized primary brain endothelial cells isolated from APOE-targeted replacement mice that express human APOE3 or APOE4 under the endogenous mouse APOE promoter. BECs are highly specialized and functionally complex to maintain homeostasis of the central nervous system and APOE genotype could theoretically alter levels of any number of molecules and associated functions. Thus, without a priori knowledge we initially evaluated the extent that APOE modulated the transcriptomic profile of brain endothelial cells.

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The brain neurovascular epigenome and its association with dementia

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