PLCG2 as a Risk Factor for Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Alzheimers disease (AD) is characterized by robust microgliosis and phenotypic changes that accompany disease pathogenesis. Indeed, genetic variants in microglial genes are linked to risk for AD. Phospholipase C{gamma} 2 (PLCG2) participates in the transduction of signals emanating from immune cell-surface receptors that regulate the inflammatory response and is selectively expressed by microglia in the brain. A rare variant in PLCG2 (P522R) was previously found to be protective against AD, indicating that PLCG2 may play a role in AD pathophysiology. Here, we report that a rare missense variant in PLCG2 confers increased AD risk (p=0.047; OR=1.164 [95% CI=1.002-1.351]). Additionally, we observed that PLCG2 expression levels are increased in several brain regions of AD patients, correlating with brain amyloid deposition. This provides further evidence that PLCG2 may play an important role in AD pathophysiology. Together, our findings indicate that PLCG2 is a potential new therapeutic target for AD.