O'Connell, K. S. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2019

A genome-wide genetic pleiotropy approach identified shared loci between multiple system atrophy and inflammatory bowel disease

We aimed to identify shared genetic background between multiple system atrophy (MSA) and autoimmune diseases by using the conjFDR approach. Our study showed significant genetic overlap between MSA and inflammatory bowel disease and identified DENND1B, C7, and RSP04 loci, which are linked to significant changes in methylation or expression levels of adjacent genes. We obtained evidence of enriched heritability involving immune/digestive categories. Finally, an MSA mouse model showed dysregulation of the C7 gene in the degenerating midbrain compared to wildtype mice. The results identify novel molecular mechanisms and implicate immune and gut dysfunction in MSA pathophysiology.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2019

Genome-wide analyses indirectly implicate miRNA regulatory mechanisms in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder psychopathology

BackgroundMiRNAs are small, noncoding RNAs possessing the potential to modulate gene expression upon binding to their target messenger RNA (mRNA) constructs, and are known to play a role in the pathogenesis of a range of psychiatric disorders. To date, little work has focused on the role of miRNAs in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The aim of this study was to assess the potential involvement of miRNAs in OCD psychopathology.\n\nMethodsThe most significant variants (p [≤] 1x10-4) from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) TS/OCD Workgroup OCD meta-analysis were selected and investigated using miRBASE, TargetScan and SNPnexus to determine whether they influence miRNA- mediated regulation in the clinical manifestation of OCD.\n\nResultsTwo-hundred and forty SNPs were identified from the PGC OCD summarystatistics, of which none were found to directly alter miRNA-related gene regulation using in silico analyses. Enrichment analyses identified several potential indirect miRNA-mediated targets associated with both increased (ITPR3: mir-124A) and decreased risk (GPR109A: mir-520A, and mir-525; CGNL1: mir-98 and mir-219).\n\nConclusionmiRNA-mediated regulation was indirectly implicated in the psychopathology of OCD. Enrichment analyses implicates intracellular calcium and immune dysregulation in the clinical manifestation of the disorder and warrants further investigation of the role the immune system may play in the manifestation of disease.

neuroscience↗