Systematic review and meta-analysis of bulk RNAseq studies in human Alzheimer's disease brain tissue

Abstract

ObjectiveTo systematically review and meta-analyze bulk RNA sequencing studies comparing Alzheimers disease (AD) patients with controls in human brain tissue, assessing study quality and identifying key genes and pathways. MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus on September 23, 2023, for studies using bulk RNAseq on primary human brain tissue from AD patients and controls. Excluded were non-primary tissue, re-analyses without new data, limited RNA types and gene panels. Quality was assessed with a 10-category tool. Meta-analysis used high-quality datasets. ResultsFrom 3,266 records, 24 studies met criteria. Meta-analysis found 571 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in temporal lobe and 189 in frontal lobe; overlapping pathways included "Tube morphogenesis" and "Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction." LimitationsStudy heterogeneity and limited data tables constrained the review. ConclusionsRigorous methods are vital in AD transcriptomic studies. Findings enhance understanding of transcriptomic changes, aiding biomarker and therapeutic development. RegistrationPROSPERO (CRD42023466522).