Tuesday, June 3, 2025
6/3/2025
Modeling Alzheimer's Disease in Hispanic Latino populations using human cortical organoids - Project Summary/Abstract Hispanic Latinos (HLs) have the highest risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias, the highest proportion of any ethnic group in the US. In genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted mostly in non-Hispanic white (NHW) individuals, Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) was established as the leading AD genetic risk factor, increasing risk 3-12 fold compared to the non-risk allele, APOE3. In HLs however, there is discordant evidence about the association of APOE4 with AD which is at least partially attributed to the genetic diversity of HLs stemming from widespread geographic origins. GWAS in large HL populations identified ancestry native to Central America, the primary ancestry of Hispanic Mexican Americans (HMA), have little to no AD association with APOE4. Studies further suggest that inheritance of APOE4 allele from native ancestor may not increase AD risk to the same extent as that observed in NHW. It is postulated that genetic variation, possibly regulatory, either local to APOE allele, or across the genome, modifies APOE4 biology. Recently, genetic variation local to APOE was shown to dominantly influence gene transcription and APOE expression independent of APOE genotype. Gaining insight on the molecular basis by which HMA background modifies APOE4 biology would identify protective mechanisms against AD. My central hypothesis is that APOE4 will be associated with AD-related phenotypes in cortical organoids with NHW ancestry, but not with HMA ancestry, or to a lesser extent. Since AD develops decades before cognitive decline and ethnic variation is human-specific, I will test my hypothesis in 3D cortical organoids. I will generate excitatory neuron-enriched human cortical organoids (hCO), and inhibitory neuron-enriched human subpallial organoids (hSO) to explore neuron subtype-specific differences in AD-related phenotypes. To investigate cellular phenotypes mediated by APOE4 with respect to genetic background, I will 1) characterize the effect of APOE4 on AD-related cellular phenotypes within NHW background, and 2) determine the effect of HMA background on APOE4 mediated phenotypes and gene transcription. My preliminary data suggests that the APOE4 allele reduces growth and upregulates APOE expression in both hCO and hSO compared to organoids carrying the non-risk allele, APOE3. Aim 1 will explore the cellular basis contributing to size (differentiation, maturation, and cell death) and characterize AD-related pathology by immunostaining and protein expression assays. To control for patient background and assess the specific effects of APOE4 genotype and genetic background, I will gene-edit APOE3 to APOE4 in iPSCs with NHW and HMA backgrounds. In Aim 2, I will determine the phenotypic and transcriptional changes associated with HMA background on APOE4- mediated AD-related phenotypes. Under this fellowship, I will expand my molecular toolkit and in vitro disease modeling and hone my skills as a molecular neuroscientist. I will also strengthen my analytical skills and learn new methods to probe gene expression by training under my sponsor and a supporting group of scientists.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).