Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40649837›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

A Module-Level Polygenic Risk Score-Based NetWAS Framework for Identifying AD Genetic Modules Mediated by Amygdala: An ADNI Study.

Haoran Luo, Shaoheng Fan, Hongwei Liu, Wei Li, Zhoujie Fan, Xuancheng Zhu, Chen Jason Zhang, Hong Liang, Shan Cong, Xiaohui Yao

Abstract read
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Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Haoran LuoDepartment of Computing, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Shaoheng FanDepartment of Computing, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Hongwei LiuCollege of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China.
Wei LiQingdao Innovation and Development Center, Harbin Engineering University, Qingdao 266000, China.
Zhoujie FanCollege of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China.
Xuancheng ZhuQingdao Innovation and Development Center, Harbin Engineering University, Qingdao 266000, China.
Chen Jason ZhangDepartment of Computing, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Hong LiangCollege of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China.ORCID 0000-0002-2590-7210
Shan CongCollege of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5981-7678
Xiaohui YaoCollege of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 62102115National Natural Science Foundation of China 62103116the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province LH2022F016the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province 2022HWYQ-093the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province ZR2024QF081
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Network-based GWAS (NetWAS) has advanced brain imaging research by identifying genetic modules associated with brain alterations. However, how imaging risk genes exert functions in brain diseases, particularly their mediation through imaging quantitative traits (iQTs), remains underexplored. We propose a module-level polygenic risk score (MPRS)-based NetWAS framework to uncover genetic modules associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) through the mediation of an iQT, using amygdala density as a case study. Our framework integrates genotype data, brain imaging phenotypes, clinical diagnosis of AD, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks to identify AD-relevant modules (ADMs) influenced by iQT-associated genetic variants. Specifically, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of amygdala density (N=1515) to identify variants associated with iQT. These variants were mapped onto a PPI network and network propagation was performed to prompt amygdala modules. The meta-GWAS of AD (N1=63,926; N2=455,267) was used to calculate MPRS to further identify AD-relevant modules (ADMs). Four modules that showed significant differences in MPRS between AD and controls were identified as ADM. Post-hoc analyses revealed that these ADMs demonstrated strong modularity, showed increased sensitivity to early stages of AD, and significantly mediated the link between ADMs and AD progression through the amygdala. Furthermore, these modules exhibited high tissue specificity within the amygdala and were enriched in AD-related biological pathways. Our MPRS-based framework bridges genetics, intermediate traits, and clinical outcomes and can be adapted for broader biomedical applications.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseAmygdalaGene Regulatory NetworksGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseMultifactorial InheritanceAgedFemaleGenetic Risk ScoreGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansMalePhenotypePolymorphism, Single NucleotideProtein Interaction MapsAlzheimer’s diseaseamygdalaMCI-to-AD conversionmediation analysismodule-level PRSnetwork-based GWASnetwork propagation

Identifiers

PMID40649837
PMCPMC12249635

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.