Genome-wide association analysis of hippocampal volume identifies enrichment of neurogenesis-related pathways
Authors: Horgusluoglu-Moloch Emrin , Risacher Shannon L. , Crane Paul K. , Hibar Derrek , Thompson Paul M. , Saykin Andrew J. , Nho Kwangsik ,   Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), Weiner Michael W. , Aisen Paul , Petersen Ronald , Jack Clifford R. , Jagust William , Trojanowki John Q. , Toga Arthur W. , Beckett Laurel , Green Robert C. , Morris John , Shaw Leslie M. , Kaye Jeffrey , Quinn Joseph , Silbert Lisa , Lind Betty , Carter Raina , Dolen Sara , Schneider Lon S. , Pawluczyk Sonia , Beccera Mauricio , Teodoro Liberty , Spann Bryan M. , Brewer James , Vanderswag Helen , Fleisher Adam , Heidebrink Judith L. , Lord Joanne L. , Mason Sara S. , Albers Colleen S. , Knopman David , Johnson Kris , Doody Rachelle S. , Villanueva-Meyer Javier , Chowdhury Munir , Rountree Susan , Dang Mimi , Stern Yaakov , Honig Lawrence S. , Bell Karen L. , Ances Beau , Morris John C. , Carroll Maria , Creech Mary L. , Franklin Erin , Mintun Mark A. , Schneider Stacy , Oliver Angela , Marson Daniel , Griffith Randall , Clark David , Geldmacher David , Brockington John , Roberson Erik , Love Marissa Natelson , Grossman Hillel , Mitsis Effie , Shah Raj C. , deToledo-Morrell Leyla , Duara Ranjan , Varon Daniel , Greig Maria T. , Roberts Peggy , Albert Marilyn , Onyike Chiadi , D’Agostino Daniel , Kielb Stephanie , Galvin James E. , Cerbone Brittany , Michel Christina A. , Pogorelec Dana M. , Rusinek Henry , de Leon Mony J , Glodzik Lidia , De Santi Susan , Doraiswamy P. Murali , Petrella Jeffrey R. , Borges-Neto Salvador , Wong Terence Z. , Coleman Edward , Smith Charles D. , Jicha Greg , Hardy Peter , Sinha Partha , Oates Elizabeth , Conrad Gary , Porsteinsson Anton P. , Goldstein Bonnie S. , Martin Kim , Makino Kelly M. , Ismail M. Saleem , Brand Connie , Mulnard Ruth A. , Thai Gaby , Mc-Adams-Ortiz Catherine , Womack Kyle , Mathews Dana , Quiceno Mary , Levey Allan I. , Lah James J. , Cellar Janet S. , Burns Jeffrey M. , Swerdlow Russell H. , Brooks William M. , Apostolova Liana , Tingus Kathleen , Woo Ellen , Silverman Daniel H. S. , Lu Po H. , Bartzokis George , Graff-Radford Neill R , Parfitt Francine , Kendall Tracy , Johnson Heather , Farlow Martin R. , Hake Ann Marie , Matthews Brandy R. , Brosch Jared R. , Herring Scott , Hunt Cynthia , van Dyck Christopher H. , Carson Richard E. , MacAvoy Martha G. , Varma Pradeep , Chertkow Howard , Bergman Howard , Hosein Chris , Black Sandra , Stefanovic Bojana , Caldwell Curtis , Hsiung Ging-Yuek Robin , Feldman Howard , Mudge Benita , Assaly Michele , Finger Elizabeth , Pasternack Stephen , Rachisky Irina , Trost Dick , Kertesz Andrew , Bernick Charles , Munic Donna , Mesulam MarekMarsel , Lipowski Kristine , Weintraub Sandra , Bonakdarpour Borna , Kerwin Diana , Wu Chuang-Kuo , Johnson Nancy , Sadowsky Carl , Villena Teresa , Turner Raymond Scott , Johnson Kathleen , Reynolds Brigid , Sperling Reisa A. , Johnson Keith A. , Marshall Gad , Yesavage Jerome , Taylor Joy L. , Lane Barton , Rosen Allyson , Tinklenberg Jared , Sabbagh Marwan N. , Belden Christine M. , Jacobson Sandra A. , Sirrel Sherye A. , Kowall Neil , Killiany Ronald , Budson Andrew E. , Norbash Alexander , Johnson Patricia Lynn , Obisesan Thomas O. , Wolday Saba , Allard Joanne , Lerner Alan , Ogrocki Paula , Tatsuoka Curtis , Fatica Parianne , Fletcher Evan , Maillard Pauline , Olichney John , DeCarli Charles , Carmichael Owen , Kittur Smita , Borrie Michael , Lee T-Y , Bartha Rob , Johnson Sterling , Asthana Sanjay , Carlsson Cynthia M. , Potkin Steven G. , Preda Adrian , Nguyen Dana , Tariot Pierre , Burke Anna , Trncic Nadira , Fleisher Adam , Reeder Stephanie , Bates Vernice , Capote Horacio , Rainka Michelle , Scharre Douglas W. , Kataki Maria , Adeli Anahita , Zimmerman Earl A. , Celmins Dzintra , Brown Alice D. , Pearlson Godfrey D. , Blank Karen , Anderson Karen , Flashman Laura A. , Seltzer Marc , Hynes Mary L. , Santulli Robert B. , Sink Kaycee M. , Gordineer Leslie , Williamson Jeff D. , Garg Pradeep , Watkins Franklin , Ott Brian R. , Querfurth Henry , Tremont Geoffrey , Salloway Stephen , Malloy Paul , Correia Stephen , Rosen Howard J. , Miller Bruce L. , Perry David , Mintzer Jacobo , Spicer Kenneth , Bachman David , Pomara Nunzio , Hernando Raymundo , Sarrael Antero , Relkin Norman , Chaing Gloria , Lin Michael , Ravdin Lisa , Smith Amanda , Raj Balebail Ashok , Fargher Kristin 
Published: October 2019

Adult neurogenesis occurs in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus during adulthood and contributes to sustaining the hippocampal formation. To investigate whether neurogenesis-related pathways are associated with hippocampal volume, we performed gene-set enrichment analysis using summary statistics from a large-scale genome-wide association study (N = 13,163) of hippocampal volume from the Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium and two year hippocampal volume changes from baseline in cognitively normal individuals from Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Cohort (ADNI). Gene-set enrichment analysis of hippocampal volume identified 44 significantly enriched biological pathways (FDR corrected p-value < 0.05), of which 38 pathways were related to neurogenesis-related processes including neurogenesis, generation of new neurons, neuronal development, and neuronal migration and differentiation. For genes highly represented in the significantly enriched neurogenesis-related pathways, gene-based association analysis identified TESC, ACVR1, MSRB3, and DPP4 as significantly associated with hippocampal volume. Furthermore, co-expression network-based functional analysis of gene expression data in the hippocampal subfields, CA1 and CA3, from 32 normal controls showed that distinct co-expression modules were mostly enriched in neurogenesis related pathways. Our results suggest that neurogenesis-related pathways may be enriched for hippocampal volume and that hippocampal volume may serve as a potential phenotype for the investigation of human adult neurogenesis.