Integrated phenotypic and proteomic screening identifies top-tier Alzheimer's disease therapeutic targets

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder. Hundreds of therapeutic targets have been nominated through genetic and multi-omic studies, but effective prioritization remains a major bottleneck.

We applied an integrative screening framework to assess 29 candidate targets from risk-enriched biological domains. Using disease-relevant murine BV2 microglial cell lines with stable Psen2 knockdown, we performed small interfering RNA-mediated perturbations followed by cellular phenotypic assays and quantitative proteomics.

Twenty-five candidate targets significantly altered at least one phenotype, with stronger effects in Psen2 knockdown cells. Integrated proteomic analyses identified several perturbations that reversed AD-associated molecular patterns. Five targets-Ap2a2, Pdhb, Pdha1, Dlat, and Psmc3-impacted both phenotypes and related proteomic responses.

We established a scalable platform for target functional validation that bridges unbiased systems-level assessments of AD risk with experimental evidence. The Emory-Sage-Structural Genomics Consortium-Jax Center Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer's Disease center will prioritize further resource development for these validated targets.

A screening platform was created to identify the most potent targets from nominated hypotheses. Integrated analysis of cellular proteomics and assay phenotypes was performed. Targets capable of reversing disease-associated proteomic signal were identified. The most impactful targets were strongly implicated in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.