Cited by 62Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchCellular transport and secretion

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 81 of the 84 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 42 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

RAB10: an Alzheimer’s disease resilience locus and potential drug target

Open access
Tavana, Justina, Rosene, Matthew, Jensen, Nick, Ridge, Perry G., Kauwe, John S.K., Karch, Celeste M.·2018·Clinical Interventions in Aging

Abstract

Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is mainly a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder. Substantial efforts have been made to solve the complex genetic architecture of AD as a means to identify therapeutic targets. Unfortunately, to date, no disease-altering therapeutics have been developed. As therapeutics are likely to be most effective in the early stages of disease (ie, before the onset of symptoms), a recent focus of AD research has been the identification of protective factors that prevent disease. One example is the discovery of a rare variant in the 3'-UTR of RAB10 that is protective for AD. Here, we review the possible genetic, molecular, and functional role of RAB10 in AD and potential therapeutic approaches to target RAB10. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, RAB10, retromer, APP, resilience, GTPase

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes genetic, molecular, and functional evidence that RAB10, a small GTPase regulating vesicular trafficking, contributes to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, and that a rare protective variant (rs142787485) in its 3′-UTR plus reduced Rab10 expression lowering Aβ42 make it a candidate resilience locus and drug target. The authors argue that inhibiting RAB10 via small molecules, antibodies, or antisense oligonucleotides is a plausible therapeutic avenue, though blood–brain barrier delivery and specificity remain obstacles.

Key findings

  • A rare variant (rs142787485) in the 3′-UTR of RAB10 was identified in whole-genome sequencing of elderly APOE ε4 carriers who escaped AD within high-risk pedigrees, conferring resilience to AD (Ridge et al).
  • Silencing Rab10 expression in a cell model of APP metabolism significantly decreased Aβ42 and the Aβ42/40 ratio; an RNAi screen of RABs showed RAB10 silencing reduces Aβ without altering sAPPβ levels.
  • Independent of the SNP, individuals with a neuropathologic AD diagnosis had significantly higher RAB10 levels than neuropathology-free controls, though total RAB10 staining did not differ between AD and control brains in a separate study.
  • pRAB10-Thr73 (phosphorylated by LRRK2) colocalized with neurofibrillary tangles, granulovascular degeneration, neuropil threads, and dystrophic neurons, and dystrophic neurons near amyloid plaques stained positive for pRAB10-Thr73 while plaques themselves were negative; the LRRK2–RAB10 pathway also causes Aβ overproduction.

Methods

Narrative review; no primary data collection or new analysis. The authors synthesize prior genetic (linkage, whole-genome sequencing, GWAS), molecular/cell-model, and neuropathological literature on RAB10, APP processing, retromer function, and candidate therapeutic modalities (small molecules, antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides). No systematic search strategy, inclusion criteria, or meta-analysis is described.

Limitations

The paper states no formal limitations section. Evident from the text: it is a non-systematic narrative review without a described search protocol; the central genetic evidence rests largely on a single prior study (Ridge et al) and the protective variant's mechanism is not established; the authors note it "remains unclear whether this represents excess activation or aberrant function of RAB10"; and the therapeutic proposals are speculative, with the authors acknowledging challenges of specificity, side-effect balance, and blood–brain barrier delivery (molecules generally need high lipid solubility and <400 Da to diffuse across the BBB, antibodies do not cross at therapeutic concentrations, and antisense oligonucleotides require intrathecal delivery).

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.2147/cia.s159148

Cites

81 of 81 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 42 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Premisecitation

    In Caenorhabditis elegans, RAB10 is required for α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid-type glutamate receptor recycling in postsynaptic membranes.

    “In Caenorhabditis elegans, RAB10 is required for α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid-type glutamate receptor recycling in postsynaptic membranes.49”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [49] Glodowski DR Chen CCH Schaefer H Grant BD Rongo C RAB-10 regulates glutamate receptor recycling in a cholesterol-dependent endocytosis pathway Mol Biol Cell 2007 18 11 4387 4396 17761527 PMC2043545
  • Interpretationreasoning

    Genetic and molecular evidence supports a role for RAB10 in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.

    “Thus, genetic and molecular evidences support a role for RAB10 in AD pathogenesis.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Higher RAB10 levels in Alzheimer’s disease brains contribute causally to pathogenesis rather than being a consequence of disease.
  • Interpretationcitation

    pRAB10-Thr73 is associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology.

    “Thus, while pRAB10-Thr73 is associated with AD pathology, it remains unclear whether this represents excess activation or aberrant function of RAB10.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Premisecitation

    Total RAB10 staining does not differ between AD and control brains.

    “Total RAB10 staining, however, did not differ between AD and control brains.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [38] Yan T Wang L Gao J Rab10 phosphorylation is a prominent pathological feature in Alzheimer’s disease J Alzheimers Dis 2018 63 1 157 165 29562525 PMC6008156
  • Premisecitation

    A rare variant rs142787485 in the 3′-UTR of RAB10 confers resilience to Alzheimer's disease.

    “Ridge et al identified a rare variant (rs142787485) in the 3′-UTR of RAB10 that confers resilience to AD.10”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [10] Ridge PG Karch CM Hsu S Linkage, whole genome sequence, and biological data implicate variants in RAB10 in Alzheimer’s disease resilience Genome Med 2017 9 1 100 29183403 PMC5706401
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 7
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 7
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    During neuronal development, RAB10 associates with plasmalemmal precursor vesicles linked to kinesin 1 via JIP1, and this complex mediates anterograde transport of RAB10-positive vesicles to axonal tips, promoting axonal growth.

    “During neuronal development, RAB10 associates with plasmalemmal precursor vesicles, which are linked to kinesin 1 via c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase-interacting protein 1.48 Together this complex mediates anterograde transport of RAB10-positive vesicles to axonal tips, promoting axonal growth.48”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [48] Deng CY Lei WL Xu XH Ju XC Liu Y Luo ZG JIP1 mediates anterograde transport of Rab10 cargos during neuronal polarization J Neurosci 2014 34 5 1710 1723 24478353 PMC8186508
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    Rab10 is essential for development; mice are embryonic lethal when both alleles are deleted.

    “Rab10 plays essential functional roles in development: mice are embryonic lethal when both alleles are deleted.42”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [42] Lv P Sheng Y Zhao Z Targeted disruption of Rab10 causes early embryonic lethality Protein Cell 2015 6 6 463 467 25860786 PMC4444807
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    RAB10 plays a role in maintenance and regulation of endoplasmic reticulum morphology.

    “In addition, RAB10 plays a role in maintenance and regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) morphology.43–45”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [43] English AR Voeltz GK Rab10 GTPase regulates ER dynamics and morphology Nat Cell Biol 2013 15 2 169 178 23263280 PMC3582403
    • cites [44] Chang J Blackstone C Rab10 joins the ER social network Nat Cell Biol 2013 15 2 135 136 23377026
    • cites [45] Schuldt A Membrane dynamics: ER trailblazing by RAB10 Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2013 14 2 63 23271010
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    Dystrophic neurons near amyloid plaques stain positive for pRAB10-Thr73, while amyloid plaques themselves are negative for pRAB10.

    “Interestingly, dystrophic neurons near amyloid plaques stained positive for pRAB10-Thr73, while the amyloid plaques themselves were negative for pRAB10.38”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [38] Yan T Wang L Gao J Rab10 phosphorylation is a prominent pathological feature in Alzheimer’s disease J Alzheimers Dis 2018 63 1 157 165 29562525 PMC6008156
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    RAB10 function is linked to neuronal morphology and polarization, playing a critical role in axonal development and dendrite arborization.

    “RAB10 function has also been linked to neuronal morphology and polarization, playing a critical role in axonal development and dendrite arborization.46,47”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [46] Liu Y Xh X Chen Q Myosin Vb controls biogenesis of post-Golgi Rab10 carriers during axon development Nat Commun 2005 2013 4 23770993
    • cites [47] Zou W Yadav S Devault L Jan YN Sherwood DR RAB-10-dependent membrane transport is required for dendrite arborization PLoS Genet 2015 11 9 e1005484 26394140 PMC4578882
  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The retromer complex regulates transport of protein cargo from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network by the retrograde pathway or to the cell surface through the recycling pathway.

    “The retromer complex regulates transport of protein cargo from endosomes to the TGN by the retrograde pathway or to the cell surface through the recycling pathway.60”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [60] Zhang QY Tan MS Yu JT Tan L The role of retromer in Alzheimer’s disease Mol Neurobiol 2016 53 6 4201 4209 26215837
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    APP is retrieved from the cell surface and trafficked to early endosomes where it is initially cleaved by BACE1 to generate β-CTF; β-CTF is then trafficked via retromer-dependent transport to the trans-Golgi network, facilitating γ-secretase cleavage to produce Aβ40.

    “APP is thought to be retrieved from the cell surface and trafficked to the early endosomes where it is initially cleaved by β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) to generate a C-terminal fragment (β-CTF).61,62 The β-CTF fragments are then trafficked via retromer-dependent transport to the TGN, which facilitates further cleavage by γ-secretase to produce Aβ40.63”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [61] Huse JT Pijak DS Leslie GJ Lee VM Doms RW Maturation and endosomal targeting of beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme. The Alzheimer’s disease beta-secretase J Biol Chem 2000 275 43 33729 33737 10924510
    • cites [62] Kinoshita A Fukumoto H Shah T Whelan CM Irizarry MC Hyman BT Demonstration by FRET of BACE interaction with the amyloid precursor protein at the cell surface and in early endosomes J Cell Sci 2003 116 16 3339 3346 12829747
    • cites [63] Choy RWY Cheng Z Schekman R Amyloid precursor protein (APP) traffics from the cell surface via endosomes for amyloid β (Aβ) production in the trans-Golgi network Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012 109 30 E2077 E2082 22711829 PMC3409748
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    The development of anti-Aβ therapeutics remains the primary approach to treating Alzheimer's disease.

    “The development of anti-Aβ therapeutics remains the primary approach to treating AD based on our current understanding of the earliest features of this disease.69”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [69] Hardy J Selkoe DJ The amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease: progress and problems on the road to therapeutics Science 2002 297 5580 353 356 12130773
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    The amyloid hypothesis proposes that accumulation of Aβ triggers the cascade of events that lead to Alzheimer's disease.

    “The amyloid hypothesis, which proposes that the accumulation of Aβ triggers the cascade of events that lead to AD, has been the focus of AD therapeutic development for decades.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [69] Hardy J Selkoe DJ The amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease: progress and problems on the road to therapeutics Science 2002 297 5580 353 356 12130773
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    APOE ε2 confers resilience to Alzheimer's disease, while the ε3 allele is considered neutral risk.

    “Conversely, APOE ε2 confers resilience to AD, while the ε3 allele is considered neutral risk.16”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [16] Corder EH Saunders AM Strittmatter WJ Gene dose of apo-lipoprotein E type 4 allele and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in late onset families Science 1993 261 5123 921 923 8346443
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    APOE ε2 and APP-A673T are among the variants with the strongest protective effect against Alzheimer's disease.

    “Those with the strongest protective effect include APOE ε2 and APP-A673T.34,35”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [34] Corder EH Saunders AM Risch NJ Protective effect of apoli-poprotein E type 2 allele for late onset Alzheimer disease Nat Genet 1994 7 2 180 184 7920638
    • cites [35] Jonsson T Atwal JK Steinberg S A mutation in APP protects against Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline Nature 2012 488 7409 96 99 22801501
11 of 11
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Therapeutics are likely to be most effective in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease before symptom onset.

    “As therapeutics are likely to be most effective in the early stages of disease (ie, before the onset of symptoms), a recent focus of AD research has been the identification of protective factors that prevent disease.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The protective effect of the RAB10 3′-UTR variant is mediated by reduced RAB10 expression or activity.

    “Ridge et al identified a rare variant (rs142787485) in the 3′-UTR of RAB10 that confers resilience to AD.10 In a cell model of APP metabolism, silencing of Rab10 expression leads to a significant decrease in Aβ42 and the Aβ42/40 ratio, consistent with prior reports.10,36”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Higher RAB10 levels in Alzheimer’s disease brains contribute causally to pathogenesis rather than being a consequence of disease.

    “Interestingly, independent of the RAB10 SNP, individuals with a neuropathologic diagnosis of AD exhibited significantly higher levels of RAB10 compared to neuropathology-free controls.10 Thus, genetic and molecular evidences support a role for RAB10 in AD pathogenesis.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from cell and animal models of RAB10/Aβ processing generalize to human Alzheimer’s disease.

    “In a cell model of APP metabolism, silencing of Rab10 expression leads to a significant decrease in Aβ42 and the Aβ42/40 ratio, consistent with prior reports.10,36”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    RAB10 can be therapeutically inhibited in humans without unacceptable toxicity.

    “While small GTPases like RAB10 present significant challenges for therapeutic development, recent work in small molecules, antibodies, and antisense oligonucleotides suggests that success can be achieved.”
5 of 5

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

3 of the 84 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [5]Cairns NJ Perrin RJ Franklin EE Neuropathologic assessment of participants in two multi-center longitudinal observational studies: the Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) Neuropathology 2015 35 4 390 400 25964057 PMC4521391
  2. [59]Bonifacino JS Hurley JH Retromer Curr Opin Cell Biol 2008 20 4 427 436 18472259 PMC2833274
  3. [65]Lambert JC Ibrahim-Verbaas CA Harold D Meta-analysis of 74,046 individuals identifies 11 new susceptibility loci for Alzheimer’s disease Nat Genet 2013 45 12 1452 1458 24162737 PMC3896259

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Metadata

Authors
Tavana, J., Rosene, M., Jensen, N., Ridge, P. G., Kauwe, J. S. K., & Karch, C. M.
Affiliations
  • Brigham Young University (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Corresponding author
Karch, Celeste M.
Venue
Clinical Interventions in Aging
Published
2018-12
Volume
Volume 14
Pages
73-79
ISSN
  • 1176-9092 (ISSN-L)
  • 1178-1998
OpenAlex
W2907234207
Cited by
62
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1
FWCI
0.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Interventions in Aging (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Dove Medical Press (Taylor and Francis Group) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Digital Commons@Becker (Washington University School of Medicine) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (RF1AG054052, K01AG046374, U01AG052411, R01AG062359)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › 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 › Cell Biology › Cellular transport and secretion
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, Rab10, retromer complex, APP, genetic resilience, protective genetic variants, 3' untranslated region, GTPase, therapeutic target
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Humans, 3' Untranslated Regions, rab GTP-Binding Proteins, Drug Discovery, Protective Factors

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