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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Optics-free spatial genomics for mapping mammalian brain aging by IRISeq.

Spatial transcriptomics has emerged as a transformative approach for in situ mapping of cellular heterogeneity and interactions, yet existing methods often compromise throughput, cost and tissue coverage. Here we introduce Imaging Reconstruction using Indexed Sequencing (IRISeq): an optics-free, cost-effective platform that leverages spatial interaction mapping by indexed sequencing to profile tissues at adjustable sizes and resolutions (5-50 µm). We applied IRISeq to map gene expression across more than 70 coronal sections from both adult and aged mouse brains, including wild-type and two lymphocyte-deficient models (Rag1 and Prkdc mutants) and generated more than 460,000 spatial transcriptome profiles. Our integrated analysis with 783,264 single-cell transcriptomes revealed region-specific aging signatures that are lymphocyte dependent, notably a downregulation of interferon signaling and inflammation in ventricular regions upon lymphocyte depletion, alongside mutant-specific upregulation of senescence pathways. Furthermore, lymphocyte deficiency was linked to preserved abundance of ependymal cells that line the brain's ventricles and to distinct microglial state dynamics, highlighting a key role for lymphocytes in driving inflammatory processes during brain aging. Overall, IRISeq provides a high-throughput and cost-effective solution for spatially resolved transcriptomic profiling, opening new avenues for elucidating region-specific cellular mechanisms underlying aging and identifying potential therapeutic targets to preserve brain homeostasis.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Mapping Focal and Generalized Effects of Common Genetic Variants on Human Brain Structure.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have advanced the quest to understand how specific genetic variants influence human brain structure and function. Recent work has identified hundreds of common variants associated with subcortical brain volumes, sparking interest in how these genetic markers overlap across brain networks. While this can be estimated by hierarchical clustering of the genetic correlation matrix to identify modular patterns of shared architecture, no brain-wide maps of these effects are available. To address this, we computed polygenic scores (PGS) from loci associated with ten brain volume regions of interest (ROIs): nine major subcortical structures and intracranial volume, with each locus weighted by its association with regional volume. In an independent sample from the discovery GWAS, we performed large-scale segmentation of 3D volumetric T1-weighted MRI scans using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to map 3D profile of regions where gray matter volume (GMV) was associated with each PGS. We found statistically significant, localized effects for PGS defined for the amygdala, thalamus, and basal ganglia, but PGS for brainstem volume was associated with widespread differences throughout the brain. These brain-wide maps reveal patterns consistent with both localized and distributed genetic influences, offering a novel approach to interpret the genomic architecture of brain structure.

GWAS↗

PubMed2026

Individualised mapping of living human brain mitochondria by MRI reveals signatures of bioenergetic defects.

Mitochondria support the bioenergetic processes that enable brain function and cognition, but we have lacked a label-free, non-invasive approach to explore how brain mitochondria are linked to ageing, disease, and cognition in humans. A recently introduced MitoBrainMap neuroimaging framework predicts mitochondrial features from magnetic resonance data alone, potentially bridging cellular biology with macroscale brain organization. Here, we tested whether this framework captures meaningful age- and pathology-related mitochondrial variation. Consistent with existing literature, we find that MR-predicted mitochondrial density and tissue respiratory capacity consistently declined with age, whereas mitochondrial respiratory capacity-an index of mitochondrial quality-was relatively preserved across the lifespan. Moreover, the relations among specific mitochondrial features predicted from our algorithm were consistent with their biological organization, supporting preliminary construct validity for MR-predicted mitochondrial features. In patients with rare mitochondrial diseases, predicted maps revealed region-specific alterations in mitochondrial density and respiratory chain components, particularly the expected compensatory upregulation of complex II, but not of other mitochondrial genome-encoded components. Finally, the MR-based mitochondrial features were associated with the energetic stress marker GDF15 measured in blood, as well as with cognitive performance measures, linking the novel predictions of brain mitochondria to systemic stress and behavior. These findings introduce a first-generation, label-free, neuroimaging-based mitochondrial mapping as a non-invasive window into living human brain mitochondria.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Awake Craniotomy for Eloquent Region Glioblastoma Classified by Tumor Location-A Retrospective and Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of awake craniotomy (AC) with intraoperative mapping for glioblastoma (GBM) in eloquent regions remains debated. This study aims to evaluate functional and survival outcomes of GBM patients undergoing AC stratified by tumor locations. METHODS: A combined retrospective (2015-2023, n = 114: 43 AC vs. 71 standard craniotomy) and prospective cohort (2023-2025, n = 28: 13 AC vs. 15 standard craniotomy) of GBM patients with motor/language-eloquent tumors was analyzed. Tumors were classified into motor subtypes (I: precentral gyrus; II: premotor/supplementary motor; III: internal capsule posterior limb; IV: other) and language subtypes (I: Broca's/precentral; II: postcentral/supramarginal gyrus; III: Wernicke's; IV: insular; V: other). Outcomes included extent of resection (EOR), postoperative motor/language recovery, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: The retrospective cohort demonstrated that AC has advantages in functional preservation across various motor/language subtypes. However, AC was associated with significantly deteriorated survival outcomes specifically in precentral gyrus GBMs. A prospective cohort study, enrolling only precentral gyrus GBMs for validation, yielded results consistent with the retrospective findings: worsened OS and PFS (OS: HR = 3.223, p = 0.0450; PFS: HR = 2.374, p = 0.0476); reduced EOR (AC: 74.3% ± 5.3%; standard craniotomy: 86.9% ± 12.3%, p = 0.0470); and better motor recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Functional preservation and survival outcomes of AC in GBM exhibited subtype-specific correlations with tumor locations. AC with intraoperative mapping effectively preserves neurological function in GBM patients. However, for tumors involving the precentral gyrus, the AC approach carries greater risks than benefits and should be considered with caution. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Strategic Intervention on Preserving Motor Function During Awake Craniotomy: NCT05143788. Strategic Intervention on Preserving Language Function During Awake Craniotomy: NCT05143775.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Brain-wide spontaneous neural avalanches: Definition, functional dynamics and cognitive relevance.

Although spontaneous activity is ubiquitous across multiple spatiotemporal scales, its functional organization and cognitive relevance remain poorly understood. Following the classic neuronal avalanche framework, a spontaneous avalanche is defined as consecutively active frames separated by inactive time bins. Hence, multiple distinct avalanches may be considered as one avalanche, thereby ignoring their spatial and temporal distinguishability. Furthermore, group-level power-law fitting of such neural avalanches is often performed to evaluate brain criticality (referring to a system perched between order and disorder) due to the limited recording length of macroscale neuroimaging (such as functional magnetic resonance imaging), and the functional representation of brain-wide neural avalanches is largely unexplored. To address these issues, we proposed large-scale neural avalanches as a single, spatially consecutive cascade pattern and further investigated their functional dynamics, network propagation, and association with task-evoked activity. Compared with the conventional inactive-bin definition, our current approach is more favorable to power-law fitting of avalanche size and duration distributions at the individual level. We also demonstrated that participants whose brain activities were close to the critical point tend to have higher cognitive abilities. Notably, the ratio of neural avalanches that evolved from primary sensory to association networks negatively correlated with cognitive abilities. Moreover, the geometric distance between low-dimensional representations of task-evoked activity and spontaneous avalanches was associated with behavioral performance. This study not only provides a promising avenue for measuring avalanche criticality based on human whole-brain neuroimaging, but also suggests that spontaneous neural avalanches and their low-dimensional representations contribute to human cognitive abilities.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

A whole-brain voxel-based analysis of structural abnormalities in PTSD: An ENIGMA-PGC study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit smaller regional brain volumes in commonly reported regions including the amygdala and hippocampus, regions associated with fear and memory processing. In the current study, we have conducted a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) meta-analysis using whole-brain statistical maps with neuroimaging data from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD working group. METHODS: T1-weighted structural neuroimaging scans from 36 cohorts (PTSD n = 1309; controls n = 2198) were processed using a standardized VBM pipeline (ENIGMA-VBM tool). We meta-analyzed the resulting statistical maps for voxel-wise differences in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes between PTSD patients and controls, performed subgroup analyses considering the trauma exposure of the controls, and examined associations between regional brain volumes and clinical variables including PTSD (CAPS-4/5, PCL-5) and depression severity (BDI-II, PHQ-9). RESULTS: PTSD patients exhibited smaller GM volumes across the frontal and temporal lobes, and cerebellum, with the most significant effect in the left cerebellum (Hedges' g = 0.22, pcorrected = .001), and smaller cerebellar WM volume (peak Hedges' g = 0.14, pcorrected = .008). We observed similar regional differences when comparing patients to trauma-exposed controls, suggesting these structural abnormalities may be specific to PTSD. Regression analyses revealed PTSD severity was negatively associated with GM volumes within the cerebellum (p corrected  = .003), while depression severity was negatively associated with GM volumes within the cerebellum and superior frontal gyrus in patients (p corrected  = .001). CONCLUSIONS: PTSD patients exhibited widespread, regional differences in brain volumes where greater regional deficits appeared to reflect more severe symptoms. Our findings add to the growing literature implicating the cerebellum in PTSD psychopathology.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Spatial mapping of RNA turnover kinetics in the mouse brain.

Gene regulation requires coordinated control of RNA synthesis and degradation, yet measuring RNA turnover across intact tissues remains challenging. Here we present spatial NT-seq, a method that combines transgenesis-free metabolic RNA labeling with in situ chemical recoding on spatial transcriptomics platforms to co-map newly synthesized and pre-existing RNAs. Applying spatial NT-seq to the mouse brain reveals pronounced regional heterogeneity in RNA turnover and identifies the dentate gyrus as a spatial hotspot marked by coordinated upregulation of basal RNA synthesis and decay. Moreover, spatial NT-seq uncovers rapid, brain region-specific transcriptional and post-transcriptional responses to electroconvulsive stimulation, a clinically relevant treatment for refractory depression. Finally, we leverage computational modeling to identify sequence features and post-transcriptional regulators that shape transcriptome-wide mRNA stability across spatial and cellular contexts in the mouse brain. Together, this integrated 'in vivo timescope' framework provides a spatially resolved view of RNA turnover kinetics and reveals the regulatory architecture of RNA stability in vivo.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Theta-range SEEG stimulation for intracranial mapping: extending conventional 1-Hz and 50-Hz protocols.

OBJECTIVE: Electrical brain stimulations (EBS) are central to epileptic network identification and functional mapping during stereo-electroencephalography, yet stimulation frequencies remain empirical, and standardized across patients and brain regions, producing false negatives and false positives, and potentially compromising surgical outcome. We prospectively investigated theta-range EBS (7 Hz) in the temporal lobe, a prominent physiological frequency band in this region, and compared it with conventional 1-Hz and 50-Hz protocols. METHODS: We analyzed 1,408 temporal EBS in 25 drug-resistant epileptic patients. Epileptic responses (afterdischarges, seizures) and clinical signs were assessed across the epileptic network and temporal structures (amygdala, hippocampus, neocortex, parahippocampal gyrus, white matter), and confronted to stimulation parameters (frequency, intensity, duration, total charge). RESULTS: At matched intensity and duration, 7-Hz EBS were associated with a higher occurrence of afterdischarges and clinical signs than 1-Hz EBS in several temporal structures. Effects on usual seizure induction were less consistent. Comparisons with 50 Hz showed no systematic significant differences, with responses observed at one or both frequencies depending on structure and outcome. When controlling for total charge, frequency-related differences were attenuated. Some effects were sporadically observed at both intermediate frequency and charge quantity. CONCLUSIONS: EBS responses emerge from the interaction between all electrical parameters and anatomical location and local excitability, and can hardly be disentangled. However, 7-Hz EBS can provide complementary clinical information during temporal-lobe mapping, with a targeted approach. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings support targeted evaluation of broader stimulation parameter spaces, including intermediate frequencies, rather than routine reliance on fixed low- and high-frequency protocols alone.

Humans↗

PubMed2019

A high resolution A-to-I editing map in the mouse identifies editing events controlled by pre-mRNA splicing.

Pre-mRNA-splicing and adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA-editing occur mostly cotranscriptionally. During A-to-I editing, a genomically encoded adenosine is deaminated to inosine by adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs). Editing-competent stems are frequently formed between exons and introns. Consistently, studies using reporter assays have shown that splicing efficiency can affect editing levels. Here, we use Nascent-seq and identify ∼90,000 novel A-to-I editing events in the mouse brain transcriptome. Most novel sites are located in intronic regions. Unlike previously assumed, we show that both ADAR (ADAR1) and ADARB1 (ADAR2) can edit repeat elements and regular transcripts to the same extent. We find that inhibition of splicing primarily increases editing levels at hundreds of sites, suggesting that reduced splicing efficiency extends the exposure of intronic and exonic sequences to ADAR enzymes. Lack of splicing factors NOVA1 or NOVA2 changes global editing levels, demonstrating that alternative splicing factors can modulate RNA editing. Finally, we show that intron retention rates correlate with editing levels across different brain tissues. We therefore demonstrate that splicing efficiency is a major factor controlling tissue-specific differences in editing levels.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

PubMed2026

Beyond one-to-one mappings: Modelling distributed lesion-symptom relationships with multilayer networks.

Lesion-symptom mapping is widely used to identify causal relationships between brain structures and behaviour, and has played a central role in neuropsychologically informed network models of cognition. However, even recent approaches remain constrained by a one-to-one mapping framework, which oversimplifies the complex relationships between network-level damage and cognitive deficits. In addition, the non-orthogonality of cortical and white matter damage makes it difficult to disentangle their distinct contributions. Here, we used graph-based multilayer network analysis to address these limitations and evaluate clinical relevance. Using neuroanatomical and longitudinal neuropsychological data from 252 patients who underwent awake neurosurgery for low-grade glioma, we constructed interactive, three-layer networks for each hemisphere. Layer 1 comprised neuropsychological tasks (NT), layer 2 structural disconnections (SD), and layer 3 cortical damage (CD). Nodes represented tasks, white matter tracts, and cortical parcels, respectively, whereas within-layer edges captured correlations in performance or co-occurring damage patterns. Multilayer community detection identified domain- and hemisphere-specific brain-behaviour motifs linking executive, language, and spatial functions to distinct combinations of cortical and white matter disruption, a pattern confirmed by two spatial embedding approaches. Centrality analyses revealed a continuum of mapping relationships, ranging from one-to-one to one-to-many associations, indicating that tasks such as verbal fluency are better explained by multiple disconnection mechanisms. Additional analyses uncovered many-to-one and many-to-many relationships and highlighted tracts and cortical regions with domain-general relevance. Together, these findings support a neurobiologically grounded, network-oriented account of how structural brain damage gives rise to cognitive deficits, with implications for clinical care.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Context-dependent functional diversity of dorsomedial posterior parietal neurons revealed by single-unit fMRI mapping during naturalistic viewing.

The dorsomedial posterior parietal cortex (dmPPC) plays an important role in episodic processing by integrating sensory, cognitive, and motor information across distributed brain systems. However, how individual dmPPC neurons participate in large-scale functional organization during naturalistic experience remains poorly understood. To address this question, we combined single-unit electrophysiology and awake fMRI in five rhesus macaques of both sexes viewing identical naturalistic video stimuli. Using single-unit fMRI mapping, we generated whole-brain neuron-BOLD functional maps by correlating individual neuronal activity with voxel-wise fMRI signals across the brain. We found that neuron-BOLD functional maps exhibited strong context-dependent organization, with neurons recorded during the same video context showing substantially greater similarity than neurons recorded during different video conditions. Compared with neuronal spiking activity or critical fMRI frames alone, neuron-BOLD functional maps more robustly captured contextual structure. Despite this shared large-scale organization, a substantial subset of neighboring neurons recorded simultaneously from the same electrode displayed markedly distinct whole-brain association patterns, revealing substantial local functional heterogeneity within the dmPPC. This local heterogeneity was not readily explained by waveform-based putative cell class or by opposing neuronal firing dynamics. In addition, distributed cortical and medial temporal regions exhibited highly context-dependent neuron-BOLD association patterns during naturalistic viewing. Together, these findings demonstrate that dmPPC neurons participate in dynamic and heterogeneous large-scale functional organization during naturalistic episodic processing. More broadly, this study establishes single-unit fMRI mapping as a framework for linking single-neuron activity to distributed whole-brain dynamics across contextual conditions.Significance Statement Using single-unit fMRI mapping, this study examined how individual dorsomedial posterior parietal cortex (dmPPC) neurons relate to large-scale brain activity during naturalistic video viewing in macaque monkeys. We found that neuron-BOLD functional maps exhibit strong context-dependent organization and capture contextual structure more robustly than neuronal spiking activity or fMRI frames alone. Despite this shared organization, a substantial subset of neighboring dmPPC neurons displayed markedly distinct whole-brain association patterns, revealing local functional heterogeneity that was not readily explained by waveform-based putative cell class or opposing firing dynamics. These findings provide insight into how local neuronal populations participate in distributed brain-wide functional organization during naturalistic episodic processing.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Cooperation of transposable elements to endow global networks of initiators of hybrid assembly pathways of endogenous multiprotein complexes.

Mechanisms governing initiation steps of the assembly of endogenous multi-protein complexes (EMC) remain incompletely understood. Here, multiple lines of observations are reported describing the function-aligned initiation sequence of hybrid assembly pathways (HAP) of EMC. The first step of HAP-guided chain reactions of protein-protein interactions (PPI) of EMC assemblies constitutes the creation of cell type-specific pools of hetero and homo dimers. The molecular anatomy of HAP was elucidated by defining qualitative and quantitative characteristics of protein binding to a compendium of 200,393 distinct genomic regulatory elements (GRE), including 49,667 sequences representing control sets of genomic loci as well as 150,726 GRE of different evolutionary origins. The consensus sequence of HAP actions consists of: a) Initiation on genomic DNA of the formation of metastable hetero- and homodimers of EMCs' protein constituents; b) Release of dimers from DNA templates for delivery to the EMC assembly compartments; c) Assembly of defined EMC by sequential on demand addition of proteins to preformed dimers serving as attractors of EMC-specific ensembles of monomers. Chromosome-naïve DNA scaffolds facilitating creation of intracellular dimer pools engage networks of ~700 transcription factors (TFs), 534 of which manifest region-specific patterns of significantly enriched expression in 1358 brain regions. HAP initiators appear to operate within nucleosome-depleted islands of transposable elements (TE) - derived sequences within heterochromatin. PPI assembly lines of EMCs operate in 2 concurrent modes: TF-TF PPI cascade and PPI HUB protein cascade. Regardless of the number of DNA-bound initiator TFs (ranging from one to 716 TFs), both modes of operations reached the equilibrium at the PPI constituents saturation levels of ~245 proteins for TF-TF PPI modes and of ~351 proteins for PPI HUB protein modes. Distinct panels of DNA-bound initiator TFs and proteins of PPI cascade ensembles are enriched in either defined sets of neuroanatomical structures (TF-TF mode) or among structural-functional constituents of synapses (HUB proteins mode). Thus, these bifurcated cascades appear biologically congruent: TF-TF constituents map to transcriptional signatures of hundreds of brain regions, whereas HUB constituents map to synaptogenesis and synaptic structures, suggesting the unified logic of genomic functions coordinating region identity and connectivity. Evidence-supported examples of default operations of PPI-guided assemblies of hetero- and homodimers of Yamanaka factors, neurogenesis constituents, and protein components of postsynaptic density of excitatory and inhibitory synaptogenesis are reported with detailed analytical focus on human Claustrum. The foundational set of observations reported in this contribution should facilitate experimental and theoretical explorations of TE-seeded genomic codes for initiators of PPI chain reactions of protein dimerization creating pools of attractors to guide and accelerate the EMC assemblies.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Exploring the transmission of cognitive task information through optimal brain pathways.

Understanding the large-scale information processing that underlies complex human cognition is the central goal of cognitive neuroscience. While emerging activity flow models demonstrate that cognitive task information is transferred by interregional functional or structural connectivity, graph-theory-based models typically assume that neural communication occurs via the shortest path of brain networks. However, whether the shortest path is the optimal route for empirical cognitive information transmission remains unclear. Based on a large-scale activity flow mapping framework, we found that the performance of activity flow prediction with the shortest path was significantly lower than that with the direct path. The shortest path routing was superior to other network communication strategies, including search information, path ensembles, and navigation. Intriguingly, the shortest path outperformed the direct path in activity flow prediction when the physical distance constraint and asymmetric routing contribution were simultaneously considered. This study not only challenges the shortest path assumption through empirical network models but also suggests that cognitive task information routing is constrained by the spatial and functional embedding of the brain network.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Hex-MASP for mapping the whole-tissue spatial proteome and the intrabrain distribution of monoclonal antibodies.

Whole-tissue level spatial proteomics provides critical insights into region-specific biological regulations but remains challenging. Previously, we introduced the micro-scaffold assisted spatial proteomics (MASP) concept for whole-tissue mapping. However, this prototype required substantial development in spatial resolution, practicality, and throughput for practical application. Here we present a next-generation MASP technique (hex-MASP) featuring i) a new design of hexagonal-micro-wells fabricated with optimized projection micro-stereolithography 3D-printing, achieving high spatial resolution, sampling robustness, and mechanical strength for reproducibly compartmentalizing even tough tissues; ii) enhanced throughput/effectiveness in sample preparation and LC-MS analysis with high quantitative quality. Applied to mouse brain, hex-MASP achieved in-depth, whole-tissue mapping for >6,000 proteins in mouse brains, with high spatial accuracy and excellent data quality. The substantially improved resolution revealed critical regional details across the entire brain, that were not previously captured, enabling precise depiction of protein distribution heterogeneity. This technique enabled the identification of many unreported regionally enriched proteins across brain structures. We further applied hex-MASP to investigate the intrabrain distribution of intracerebroventricularly dosed antibody therapeutics and related proteins, which enabled whole-tissue mapping of protein drugs revealed insights into antibody brain penetration and distribution. Hex-MASP represents a robust, scalable platform for whole-tissue spatial proteomics.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Exploring potential targets and molecular mechanisms of traumatic brain injury exacerbated by Benzo(a)pyrene via network toxicology and molecular dynamics simulation.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a common environmental pollutant from combustion sources that promotes oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, its contribution to worsening traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to assess the contribution of BaP to secondary injury in TBI. By integrating data from e.g., the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, GeneCards, and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, 121 overlapping core targets were identified between BaP and TBI. Enrichment analyses via Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, combined with protein-protein interaction networks and topological algorithms (degree, closeness centrality, betweenness centrality, average shortest path length, topological coefficient and partner of multi-edged node pairs), highlighted five hub genes (TP53, EGFR, AKT1, ACTB, and TNF) implicated in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities of BaP to these hub proteins, with energies from -9.3 to -12.1 kcal/mol, tighter than co-crystal ligands and existing protein-binding drugs. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed interaction stability through low root-mean-square deviation (< 0.5 nm), fluctuation, and radius of gyration values. Calculation of binding free energies using MM-PBSA validated the strong binding affinity between BaP and binding pockets of each hub genes. Toxicity prediction analysis revealed an oral LD50 of 316 mg/kg for BaP, with high probabilities for neurotoxicity, BBB permeability, carcinogenicity, and mutagenicity, associated with aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation. These findings reveal a "neurovascular homeostasis disruption" network underlying BaP-exacerbated TBI pathology and highlight potential targets to reduce pollution-related risks in TBI management.

Benzo(a)pyrene↗

PubMed2025

The role of the brain-bone axis in skeletal degenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders, A genome-wide pleiotropic analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Skeletal degenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders often coexist clinically. However, the genetic correlations and underlying biological mechanisms between these two types of diseases remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genetic correlations between skeletal degenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders and to identify shared genomic loci, genes, and pathways. METHODS: This comprehensive genome-wide pleiotropic association study utilized summary statistics from publicly available genome-wide association data. Various statistical genetic correlation methods were employed, including LDSC, HDL, PLACO, Coloc, Hyprcoloc, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, along with immune cell colocalization analysis. The study aimed to identify potential shared genetic factors among three skeletal degenerative diseases (osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, and osteoporosis) and three psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder). RESULTS: Analyses using LDSC, HDL, and Bonferroni corrections revealed significant genetic correlations between intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and anxiety disorder (ANX); fractures, IVDD, and arthritis with major depressive disorder (MDD); and arthritis with schizophrenia (SCZ). Significant genetic correlations were also observed between VDD and ANX, fractures, IVDD, hip osteoarthritis (HipOA), knee osteoarthritis (KneeOA) and MDD, and KneeOA and SCZ. Pleiotropy analysis using PLACO, MAGMA, and multitrait colocalization Hyprcoloc identified 65 pleiotropic loci, 27 shared causal loci, and 9 shared risk loci involving immune cells related to both psychiatric and bone-related diseases. Additionally, tissue-specific enrichment analysis showed that genes mapped to these loci were enriched in brain, cardiovascular, pancreatic, and other tissues. The IVW method demonstrated that MDD increased the risk of IVDD and KneeOA, while IVDD increased the risk of ANX and MDD. Conversely, SCZ was associated with a reduced risk of KneeOA. Multiple sensitivity analyses further supported a positive causal effect of IVDD on MDD. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest significant genetic correlations between skeletal degenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders, highlighting multiple shared comorbid genes and key immune cell types. Importantly, the study supports the role of the brain-bone axis in the regulation of skeletal degenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders, which could provide valuable insights for potential therapeutic targets and interventions for these conditions.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Spatial transcriptomics of Ciona adult brains reveals functional zonalization and insights into neural gland function.

The ascidian Ciona is a pivotal chordate model for illuminating the evolutionary origins of the vertebrate brain. Here, spatial transcriptomics of the adult Ciona neural complex, combined with image-based computational super-resolution mapping, resolved distinct tissue domains including the cerebral ganglion, neural gland, ciliated funnel, neural gland duct/dorsal strand, and body wall muscle. Within the cerebral ganglion, high-resolution mapping revealed clear molecular zonalization separating the cortex and medulla, alongside regional specialization within the cortex itself. The neural gland exhibited localized enrichment of genes associated with extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions. These spatial features suggest that the neural gland functions as a homeostatic and signaling interface, reminiscent of primitive vertebrate meninges or choroid plexus. Overall, this spatially defined gene expression map provides a foundational framework for understanding functional regionalization in the tunicate brain and its evolutionary relationship to vertebrate nervous systems.

Ciona↗

PubMed2025

The relationship between vitamin D levels and depression: a genetically informed study.

BACKGROUND: Low vitamin D (vitD) levels are consistently associated with an increased risk of depression. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this relationship and potential shared genetic overlap remain elusive. METHODS: We investigated the genetic overlap and causal relationships between depression (N = 589,356) and vitD levels (N = 417,580) using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics. We performed genome-wide and local genetic correlation analyses, followed by quantification of polygenic overlap variants. Shared genetic loci were identified and mapped to genes, which were further analyzed through gene expression and lifespan brain expression trajectory analyses. Bidirectional causal relationships were examined using multiple Mendelian randomization approaches. RESULTS: We observed significant negative genetic correlations (rg = -0.079) and identified genetic overlap (N = 410 variants). Genes mapped to the 13 shared loci showed opposing expression patterns. Tissue- and cell-specific functional enrichment analyses revealed significant signals related to brain development, with distinct patterns emerging between fetal development and adulthood. Shared genes (TRMT61A, ITIH4, RASGRP1, CTNND1, HERC1, IP6K1, FURIN ESR1, ZMYND and GRM5) exhibited notable expression variation in the brian throughout the lifespan, aligning with functional enrichment findings. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings elucidate the shared biological mechanisms underlying the relationship between vitD and depression, suggesting that vitD play an important role in the development of depression through altered early neurodevelopmental processes.

Humans↗