Procopio, F. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2022

The genetics of specific cognitive abilities

Most research on individual differences in performance on tests of cognitive ability focuses on general cognitive ability (g), the highest level in the three-level Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) hierarchical model of intelligence. About 50% of the variance of g is due to inherited DNA differences (heritability) which increases across development. Much less is known about the genetics of the middle level of the CHC model, which includes 16 broad factors such as fluid reasoning, processing speed, and quantitative knowledge. We provide a meta-analytic review of 863,041 monozygotic-dizygotic twin comparisons from 80 publications for these middle-level factors, which we refer to as specific cognitive abilities (SCA). Twin comparisons were available for 11 of the 16 CHC domains. The average heritability across all SCA is 55%, similar to the heritability of g. However, there is substantial differential heritability and the SCA do not show the dramatic developmental increase in heritability seen for g. We also investigated SCA independent of g (g-corrected SCA, which we refer to as SCA.g). A surprising finding is that SCA.g remain substantially heritable (53% on average), even though 25% of the variance of SCA that covaries with g has been removed. Our review frames expectations for genomic research that will use polygenic scores to predict SCA and SCA.g. Genome-wide association studies of SCA.g are needed to create polygenic scores that can predict SCA profiles of cognitive abilities and disabilities independent of g. These could be used to foster childrens cognitive strengths and minimise their weaknesses.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2018

CD32+ and PD-1+ Lymph Node CD4 T Cells Support Persistent HIV-1 Transcription in Treated Aviremic Individuals

A recent study conducted in blood has proposed CD32 as the marker identifying the elusive HIV reservoir. We have investigated the distribution of CD32+ CD4 T cells in blood and lymph nodes(LNs) of healthy HIV-1 uninfected, viremic untreated and long-term treated HIV-1 infected individuals and their relationship with PD-1+ CD4 T cells. The frequency of CD32+ CD4 T cells was increased in viremic as compared to treated individuals in LNs and a large proportion(up to 50%) of CD32+ cells co-expressed PD-1 and were enriched within T follicular helper cells(Tfh) cells. We next investigated the role of LN CD32+ CD4 T cells in the HIV reservoir. Total HIV DNA was enriched in CD32+ and PD-1+ CD4 T cells as compared to CD32- and PD-1- cells in both viremic and treated individuals but there was no difference between CD32+ and PD-1+ cells. There was not enrichment of latently infected cells with inducible HIV-1 in CD32+ versus PD-1+ cells in ART treated individuals. HIV-1 transcription was then analyzed in LN memory CD4 T cell populations sorted on the basis of CD32 and PD-1 expression. CD32+PD-1+ CD4 T cells were significantly enriched in cell associated HIV RNA as compared to CD32-PD-1-(average 5.2 fold in treated and 86.6 fold in viremics), to CD32+PD-1-(2.2 fold in treated and 4.3 fold in viremics) and to CD32-PD-1+ cell populations(2.2 fold in ART treated and 4.6 fold in viremics). Similar levels of HIV-1 transcription were found in CD32+PD-1- and CD32-PD-1+ CD4 T cells. Interestingly, the proportion of CD32+ and PD-1+ CD4 T cells negatively correlated with CD4 T cell counts and length of therapy while positively correlated with viremia. Therefore, the expression of CD32 identifies, independently of PD-1, a CD4 T cell population with persistent HIV-1 transcription and CD32 and PD-1 co-expression the CD4 T cell population with the highest levels of HIV-1 transcription in both viremic and treated individuals.\n\nImportanceThe existence of long-lived latently infected resting memory CD4 T cells represents a major obstacle to the eradication of HIV infection. Identifying cell markers defining latently infected cells containing replication competent virus is important in order to determine the mechanisms of HIV persistence and to develop novel therapeutic strategies to cure HIV infection. We provide evidence that PD-1 and CD32 may have a complementary role in better defining CD4 T cell populations infected with HIV-1. Furthermore, CD4 T cells co-expressing CD32 and PD-1 identify a CD4 T cell population with high levels of persistent HIV-1 transcription.

immunology↗