Cited by 95Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchGenetic Associations and Epidemiology

An intronic VNTR affects splicing of ABCA7 and increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease

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On Behalf of the BELNEU Consortium, De Roeck, Arne, Duchateau, Lena, Van Dongen, Jasper, Cacace, Rita, Bjerke, Maria, Van den Bossche, Tobi, Cras, Patrick +5 more·2018·Acta Neuropathologica

Abstract

Mutations leading to premature termination codons in ATP-Binding Cassette Subfamily A Member 7 ( ABCA7 ) are high penetrant risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The influence of other genetic variants in ABCA7 and downstream functional mechanisms, however, is poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated tandem repetitive regions in ABCA7 in a Belgian cohort of 1529 AD patients and control individuals and identified an intronic variable number tandem repeat (VNTR). We observed strong association between VNTR length and a genome-wide associated signal for AD in the ABCA7 locus. Expanded VNTR alleles were highly enriched in AD patients [odds ratio = 4.5 (1.3–24.2)], and VNTR length inversely correlated with amyloid β 1–42 in cerebrospinal fluid and ABCA7 expression. In addition, we identified three novel ABCA7 alternative splicing events. One isoform in particular—which is formed through exon 19 skipping—lacks the first nucleotide binding domain of ABCA7 and is abundant in brain tissue. We observed a tight correlation between exon 19 skipping and VNTR length. Our findings underline the importance of studying repetitive DNA in complex disorders and expand the contribution of genetic and transcript variation in ABCA7 to AD.

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Authors
On Behalf of the BELNEU Consortium, De Roeck, A., Duchateau, L., Van Dongen, J., Cacace, R., Bjerke, M., Van den Bossche, T., Cras, P., Vandenberghe, R., De Deyn, P. P., Engelborghs, S., Van Broeckhoven, C., & Sleegers, K.
Affiliations
  • University of Antwerp (BE)
  • Antwerp University Hospital (BE)
  • Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (BE)
Corresponding author
Sleegers, Kristel
Venue
Acta Neuropathologica
Published
2018-03-27
Volume
135
Issue
6
Pages
827-837
ISSN
  • 0001-6322 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-0533
OpenAlex
W2795221761
Cited by
93
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 1
FWCI
6.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Acta Neuropathologica (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Libraries (Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), l'Université de Namur (UNamur) and the Université Saint-Louis (USL-B)) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Alzheimer Research Foundation (S#16031)
  • Belgian Science Policy Interuniversity Attraction Poles Program
  • Flemish government-initiated Flanders Impulse Program on Networks for Dementia Research
  • Flemish government-initiated Methusalem Excellence Program
  • VIB Technology Fund
  • Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (G030718N, 1S44216N)
  • Rotary Belgium
  • Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Keywords
ABCA7, Alzheimer's disease, variable number tandem repeats, alternative splicing, exon skipping, repetitive DNA, amyloid-beta 42, cerebrospinal fluid, genetic risk
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Exons, Female, Humans, Introns, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Biomarkers, Gene Expression, Alternative Splicing, ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters, Minisatellite Repeats, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Protein Isoforms, Genetic Association Studies

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