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NEK1 variants confer susceptibility to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 04:58 authored by Kevin P Kenna, Perry Doormaal, Annelot Dekker, Nicola Ticozzi, Brendan Kenna, Frank Diekstra, Wouter van Rheenen, Nigel LeighNigel Leigh, et alTo identify genetic factors contributing to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we conducted whole-exome analyses of 1,022 index familial ALS (FALS) cases and 7,315 controls. In a new screening strategy, we performed gene-burden analyses trained with established ALS genes and identified a significant association between loss-of-function (LOF) NEK1 variants and FALS risk. Independently, autozygosity mapping for an isolated community in the Netherlands identified a NEK1 p.Arg261His variant as a candidate risk factor. Replication analyses of sporadic ALS (SALS) cases and independent control cohorts confirmed significant disease association for both p.Arg261His (10,589 samples analyzed) and NEK1 LOF variants (3,362 samples analyzed). In total, we observed NEK1 risk variants in nearly 3% of ALS cases. NEK1 has been linked to several cellular functions, including cilia formation, DNA-damage response, microtubule stability, neuronal morphology and axonal polarity. Our results provide new and important insights into ALS etiopathogenesis and genetic etiology.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Nature GeneticsISSN
1061-4036Publisher
Nature Publishing groupExternal DOI
Issue
9Volume
48Page range
1037-1042Department affiliated with
- BSMS Neuroscience Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes