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Uncovering systems-level molecular similarities between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases

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Abstract

Two of the most prevalent central neuron system disorders are Alzheimer (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Interestingly, despite their differences in both pathological and molecular basis of the diseases, they exhibit some degrees of similarities. Here, we have conducted a comparative systems-level analysis study for these diseases. Cohort cortex samples from healthy control cases and AD/PD patients were obtained, then we have applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Network analysis identified key modules of genes related to each of these diseases. Gene ontology enrichment of the modules showed the involvement of both disease-specific and shared biological processes, including chemical synaptic transmission, nervous system development, and immune responses that are involved in both AD and PD. Surprisingly, the expression patterns for the gene members of the shared modules were strikingly identical. Additionally, we have identified a set of novel genes, including INPP4A, CREG2, ABI3, MYO1F, NAPB, NXN, DOCK6, CPSF6, and IKZF1. While these genes are implicated in either AD or PD modules as shown in Table 2, their potential functional relevance to both diseases warrants further investigation. In conclusion, besides unveiling the presence of high molecular level similarities between AD and PD, for the first time, several novel genes have been proposed that can open a new opportunity for diagnostic or treatment applications.

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Data availability

All data used in this study is freely available and can be obtained from NCBI using above-mentioned GSE codes “GSE36980” and “GSE68719”.

Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer's disease

PD:

Parkinson’s disease

WGCNA:

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Mr. Rasoul Godini (currently a Ph.D. student at Monash University, Australia) for his help with WGCNA analysis and Ms. Fatemeh Hadi (Ph.D. graduate, Razi University, Iran) for confirming the genes in the modules that has been included in Table 2 of this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Razi University, Baq-E-Abrisham, Kermanshah, Islamic Republic of Iran, Postal Code: 6714967346

    Hossein Fallahi, Mehran Radak & Zahra Sadat Yadegari

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Additional information

Highlight study

• Network analysis identified key modules of genes related to both AD and PD.

• Chemical transmission, nervous development, and immune responses are affected.

• INPP4A, CREG2, ABI3, MYO1F, NAPB, NXN, DOCK6, CPSF6, and IKZF1 were identified.

• There are system-level similarities between AD and PD.

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Fallahi, H., Radak, M. & Yadegari, Z.S. Uncovering systems-level molecular similarities between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Neurosci Behav Physi 53, 1300–1318 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-023-01484-8

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