Cited by 121Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

A nonsynonymous mutation in PLCG2 reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia, and increases the likelihood of longevity

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DESGESCO (Dementia Genetics Spanish Consortium), EADB (Alzheimer Disease European DNA biobank), van der Lee, Sven J., EADB (Alzheimer Disease European DNA biobank), IFGC (International FTD-Genomics Consortium), IPDGC (The International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium), IPDGC (The International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium), RiMod-FTD (Risk and Modifying factors in Fronto-Temporal Dementia), Netherlands Brain Bank (NBB), The GIFT (Genetic Investigation in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease) Study Group +100 more·2019·Acta Neuropathologica

Abstract

The genetic variant rs72824905-G (minor allele) in the PLCG2 gene was previously associated with a reduced Alzheimer's disease risk (AD). The role of PLCG2 in immune system signaling suggests it may also protect against other neurodegenerative diseases and possibly associates with longevity. We studied the effect of the rs72824905-G on seven neurodegenerative diseases and longevity, using 53,627 patients, 3,516 long-lived individuals and 149,290 study-matched controls. We replicated the association of rs72824905-G with reduced AD risk and we found an association with reduced risk of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We did not find evidence for an effect on Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) risks, despite adequate sample sizes. Conversely, the rs72824905-G allele was associated with increased likelihood of longevity. By-proxy analyses in the UK Biobank supported the associations with both dementia and longevity. Concluding, rs72824905-G has a protective effect against multiple neurodegenerative diseases indicating shared aspects of disease etiology. Our findings merit studying the PLCγ2 pathway as drug-target.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00401-019-02026-8

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  • PLCG2 polymorphisms are associated with both reduced and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and with longevity.

    “PLCG2 polymorphisms are associated with both reduced and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and with longevity.”

    From Multi-omics analyses reveal novel effects of PLCγ2 deficiency in the mouse brain (2023) · cites this paper as [2]

    The Conclusions (page unavailable) state that the PLCG2 rs72824905-G allele is associated with decreased Alzheimer’s disease risk and an increased chance of longevity. The paper does not establish the claim’s additional association between PLCG2 polymorphisms and increased Alzheimer’s disease risk. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The P522R variant in PLCG2 confers protection for Alzheimer's disease and results in a subtle increase in enzymatic activity.

    “The P522R variant in PLCG2 has been shown to confer protection for AD and to result in a subtle increase in enzymatic activity.”

    From PLCγ2 regulates TREM2 signalling and integrin-mediated adhesion and migration of human iPSC-derived macrophages (2021) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Discussion reports that this PLCG2 variant was associated with reduced Alzheimer’s disease risk and that the authors replicated the protective association. It also reports a slight increase in activity from earlier functional experiments, but says those findings need confirmation; describing the activity increase as a demonstrated result overstates the evidence. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • PLCG2 encodes PLCγ2, which upon activation by specific membrane receptors or Rac GTPases enables hydrolysis of PI(4,5)P2 into DAG and IP3.

    “PLCG2 encodes Phospholipase C Gamma 2 (PLCγ2), which, upon activation by specific membrane receptors or Rac GTPases, enables hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol (van der Lee et al. 2019; Kadamur and Ross 2013) bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) into diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3).”

    From Alzheimer's Protection by <scp>PLCγ2</scp> Compacts Plaques, Redistributes Microglia, and Protects Synapses in <scp> <i>App</i> <sup> <i>NL</i> </sup> </scp> <sup> <i>‐G‐F</i> </sup> Mice (2026) · cites this paper as van der Lee et al. 2019

    The Introduction identifies phospholipase Cγ2 as the protein product of PLCG2 and describes its role in transmembrane immune-signal transduction. Neither the Introduction nor the retrieved passages specify activation by membrane receptors or Rac GTPases, or hydrolysis of PI(4,5)P2 into DAG and IP3. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The PLCγ2 variant had no protective effect on the risk of progressive supranuclear palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or multiple sclerosis.

    “In contrast, the PLCγ2 variant had no protective effect on the risk of progressive supranuclear palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or multiple sclerosis (163).”

    From The role of PLCγ2 in immunological disorders, cancer, and neurodegeneration (2021) · cites this paper as [163]

    The Discussion reports no protective association for ALS, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. It says the progressive supranuclear palsy analysis was inconclusive because of insufficient power, so the source does not establish that the variant had no protective effect on that disease. (LLM, conf=0.92)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • A recent study on a centenarian cohort suggested this variant could exert a beneficial effect on the entire immune system and promote healthy ageing, thus indicating that protection might also be mediated via the peripheral immune system, and could span the entire organism.

    “As a recent study on a centenarian cohort suggested, this variant could exert a beneficial effect on the entire immune system and promote healthy ageing [9], thus indicating that protection might also be mediated via the peripheral immune system, and could span the entire organism”

    From TREM2/PLCγ2 signalling in immune cells: function, structural insight, and potential therapeutic modulation (2021) · cites this paper as [9]

    The Results (Association with longevity; page unavailable) report enrichment of rs72824905-G among cognitively healthy centenarians, and the Introduction (page unavailable) says PLCG2 functions in immune cells in both the brain and periphery. These passages support a possible link to healthy ageing, but the paper does not show that this variant benefits the entire immune system; its Discussion says the variant’s functional effects still need study. The statement about organism-wide protection follows the citation and is the citing authors’ inference. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
DESGESCO (Dementia Genetics Spanish Consortium), E. (. D. E. D. B., van der Lee, S. J., biobank), E. (. D. E. D., IFGC (International FTD-Genomics Consortium), I. (. I. P. D. G. C., IPDGC (The International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium), Dementia), R.-F. (. A. M. F. I. F.-T., (NBB), N. B. B., The GIFT (Genetic Investigation in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease) Study Group, Conway, O. J., Jansen, I., Carrasquillo, M. M., Kleineidam, L., van den Akker, E., Hernández, I., van Eijk, K. R., Stringa, N., Chen, J. A., Zettergren, A., Andlauer, T. F. M., Diez-Fairen, M., Simon-Sanchez, J., Lleó, A., Zetterberg, H., Nygaard, M., Blauwendraat, C., Savage, J. E., Mengel-From, J., Moreno-Grau, S., Wagner, M., Fortea, J., Keogh, M. J., Blennow, K., Skoog, I., Friese, M. A., Pletnikova, O., Zulaica, M., Lage, C., de Rojas, I., Riedel-Heller, S., Illán-Gala, I., Wei, W., Jeune, B., Orellana, A., Then Bergh, F., Wang, X., Hulsman, M., Beker, N., Tesi, N., Morris, C. M., Indakoetxea, B., Collij, L. E., Scherer, M., Morenas-Rodríguez, E., Ironside, J. W., van Berckel, B. N. M., Alcolea, D., Wiendl, H., Strickland, S. L., Pastor, P., Rodríguez Rodríguez, E., Boeve, B. F., Petersen, R. C., Ferman, T. J., van Gerpen, J. A., Reinders, M. J. T., Uitti, R. J., Tárraga, L., Maier, W., Dols-Icardo, O., Kawalia, A., Dalmasso, M. C., Boada, M., Zettl, U. K., van Schoor, N. M., Beekman, M., Allen, M., Masliah, E., de Munain, A. L., Pantelyat, A., Wszolek, Z. K., Ross, O. A., Dickson, D. W., Graff-Radford, N. R., Knopman, D., Rademakers, R., Lemstra, A. W., Pijnenburg, Y. A. L., Scheltens, P., Gasser, T., Chinnery, P. F., Hemmer, B., Huisman, M. A., Troncoso, J., Moreno, F., Nohr, E. A., Sørensen, T. I. A., Heutink, P., Sánchez-Juan, P., Posthuma, D., Clarimón, J., Christensen, K., Ertekin-Taner, N., Scholz, S. W., Ramirez, A., Ruiz, A., Slagboom, E., van der Flier, W. M., & Holstege, H.
Affiliations
  • Mayo Clinic in Florida (US)
  • Amsterdam Neuroscience (NL)
  • University of Bonn (DE)
  • Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
  • Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (ES)
  • University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
  • University Hospital Mútua de Terrassa (ES)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (ES)
  • Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
  • University of Southern Denmark (DK)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
  • Mayo Clinic (US)
  • University of Cologne (DE)
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (DE)
  • Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
Corresponding author
Holstege, Henne
Venue
Acta Neuropathologica
Published
2019-05-26
Volume
138
Issue
2
Pages
237-250
ISSN
  • 0001-6322 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-0533
OpenAlex
W2944923405
Cited by
120
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1
FWCI
10.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
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  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
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Funders
  • Mayo Clinic (P50 NS072187, U01 AG046139, R01 NS080820)
  • Alzheimer's Association (ZEN‐01‐3151)
  • Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
  • American Parkinson Disease Association (R01 NS078086, P50 NS072187)
  • University of Miami
  • Johns Hopkins University (P50-AG005146, AG005146)
  • Georgetown University
  • CurePSP
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Wellcome Trust (084762, 212219/Z/18/Z, WT084762)
  • Little Family Foundation (P50 NS072187, R01 NS078086)
  • Demensförbundet
  • European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (115975)
  • Sol Goldman Charitable Trust
  • Lewy Body Dementia Association
  • Motor Neurone Disease Association
  • University College London
  • ZonMw (733051061, 733050814)
  • Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (01GI0916, 01GI0917, 01ZX1614J)
  • Generalitat de Catalunya (2017-SGR)
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (050.060.810, 480- 05-003, 453-13-005, 453-14-005)
  • Vetenskapsrådet (2013-2300, 2013‐2496, 2015-02830)
  • Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria
  • Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset
  • Stichting ALS Nederland
  • Centre for Medical Systems Biology
  • Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (PI13/02434, Program1, PI16/01861)
  • Grifols
  • National Institutes of Health (U19-AG03365, NIH P50, NS38377, AG046139, NS100693, NS072187, Z01-AG000949, P50 NS38377)
  • Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic
  • Tau Consortium
  • Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00015/7)
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16/, PI13/02434, PI15/00878, PI14/01126, PI11/, PI16/01861, PI14/, PI12/02288, PI08/0139, PI17/01019, PI16/01652, PI17/01895, PI11/02526)
  • European Regional Development Fund (PI16/01861, PI13/02434, 01126)
  • National Institute on Aging (RF1AG051504, AG046139, K23AG059891, RF AG051504, AG051504, P01AG008761, AG-005146, U19‐AG03365, NIH P50, P50AG005146, U01AG046139, R01AG061796, ZIA-NS003154, P30AG062422)
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS 38377, NINDS R01 NS078086, NS078086, P50NS38377, R01NS080820, R01NS078086, NS080820, P50NS038377, U54NS100693, NS072187, P50NS072187, R35NS097261, NS100693, ZIANS003154)
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 › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
PLCγ2, non-synonymous mutations, Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, longevity, neurodegenerative diseases, genetic risk, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, etiology
MeSH terms
Alleles, Alzheimer Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Brain, Dementia, Humans, Longevity, Multiple Sclerosis, Mutation, Parkinson Disease, Risk, Microglia, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Lewy Body Disease, Phospholipase C gamma, Genome-Wide Association Study, Frontotemporal Dementia, Neuroimaging

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