Mendelian randomization identifies proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases. (PubMed, Brain)
The newly associated proteins indicated the involvement of complement (C1S and C1R), microglia (SIRPA, SIGLEC9 and PRSS8) and lysosomes (CLN5) in Alzheimer's disease; the interleukin-6 pathway (CTF1) in Parkinson's disease; lysosomes (TPP1), blood-brain barrier integrity (MFAP2) and astrocytes (TNFSF13) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and blood-brain barrier integrity (VEGFB), oligodendrocytes (PARP1), node of Ranvier and dorsal root ganglion (NCS1, FLRT3 and CDH15) and the innate immune system (CR1, AHSG and WARS) in multiple sclerosis. Our study demonstrates how harnessing large-scale genomic and proteomic data can yield new insights into the role of the plasma proteome in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.