Lower expression of BIN1's neuronal isoform in vulnerable excitatory neurons increases risk in Alzheimer's disease

Neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience elevated DNA damage, with DNA repair sites enriched at enhancer regions of genes essential for neuronal survival. Excitatory neurons in the cortical superficial layers expressing CUX2 and RORB (Cux2+/Rorb+), are selectively vulnerable in AD, but their relationship to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in AD genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is unclear.

This study aimed to identify and characterize functional AD-GWAS SNPs using single-nucleus RNA sequencing data, focusing on selectively vulnerable neurons and DNA repair hotspots.

Filters were applied to identify candidate SNPs based on overlap with repair hotspots, RNA expression, transcription factor binding, AD association, and epigenetic significance. In vitro assays and analyses of large datasets from bulk RNA-seq (n = 1894), proteomics (n = 400), and single-nucleus RNA-seq (n = 424, 1.6 M cells) were conducted.

BIN1 SNP, rs78710909, met multiple criteria - located in an AD-GWAS locus, repair hotspot, and promoter region. rs78710909C exhibits 1.52× higher AD risk and 5.4× differential transcription factor binding. In vitro, rs78710909C shows greater enhancer activity and weaker p53 but stronger E2F1 binding. BIN1's neuronal isoform is neuroprotective, but its AD expression is lower (p < 0.01). Moreover, only in AD and Cux2+/Rorb + neurons, rs78710909C is associated with a lower average BIN1 neuronal isoform ratio (p < 0.01). The genes upregulated in neurons with lower neuronal isoform ratio were associated with the hallmarks of AD pathology.

In a disease-relevant mechanism, the BIN1 SNP rs78710909C is associated with a lower ratio of BIN1's neuronal isoform which increases the vulnerability of specific excitatory neurons in AD patients.