ANALYSIS OF GWAS-IDENTIFIED VARIANTS ASSOCIATED WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RISK IN CASS4, TREM2, CD2AP, AND MS4A4E GENES

Abstract

Understanding genetic and biochemical aspects of complex diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is crucial for developing new treatments. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identify genetic risk factors, but validating these variants is necessary to confirm their role in disease susceptibility. This observational analytical case-control genetic association study included 221 unrelated participants, comprising 82 patients with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) and 139 older adults without dementia. Four GWAS-identified variants associated with LOAD were analyzed: rs911159 in CASS4, rs75932628 in TREM2, rs9349407 in CD2AP, and rs670139 in MS4A4E, using real-time PCR and PCR-RFLP. Logistic regression showed an association between rs911159 in CASS4 and LOAD (OR = 0.187; 95% CI 0.059–0.59; p = 0.005), suggesting a protective effect in our sample. However, no association was found for rs9349407 in CD2AP and rs670139 in MS4A4E. The rs75932628-T variant was not detected in our sample. These findings contribute to the understanding of the genetic basis of LOAD in an admixed Brazilian population. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the limited sample size, and further studies with larger cohorts are needed to confirm these associations.

Author Biographies

Jucimara Ferreira Figueiredo Almeida, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES

Human and Molecular Genetics Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil.

Amanda Silva Coutinho Thiebaut, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES, Brazil

Human and Molecular Genetics Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil.

Lígia Ramos dos Santos, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Rose F. Kennedy Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1410 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.

Lucas Henrique Gonzaga de Oliveira, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES, Brazil

Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil.

Lúcia Helena Sagrillo Pimassoni, Higher School of Sciences of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Vitória-ES, Brazil

Higher School of Sciences of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Vitória, ES, Brazil.

Maira Trancozo, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES, Brazil

Human and Molecular Genetics Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES, Brazil.

Patricia Menêses Portela, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES, Brazil.

Human and Molecular Genetics Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES, Brazil.

Renato Lírio Morelato, Higher School of Sciences of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Vitória, ES, Brazil

Higher School of Sciences of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Vitória, ES, Brazil; Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória Hospital, Higher School of Sciences of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Vitória, ES, Brazil.

Flavia de Paula, Higher School of Sciences of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Vitória, ES, Brazil

Higher School of Sciences of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Vitória, ES, Brazil.

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How to Cite

Almeida, J. F. F. ., Thiebaut, A. S. C. ., Santos, L. R. dos, Oliveira, L. H. G. de, Pimassoni, L. H. S., Trancozo, M., Portela, P. M., Morelato, R. L., & Paula, F. de. (2026). ANALYSIS OF GWAS-IDENTIFIED VARIANTS ASSOCIATED WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RISK IN CASS4, TREM2, CD2AP, AND MS4A4E GENES. RECIMA21 - Revista Científica Multidisciplinar - ISSN 2675-6218, 7(6), e768066. https://doi.org/10.47820/recima21.v7i6.8066