Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40643497›Full record

ArticleCells2025

From Brain to Blood: Uncovering Potential Therapeutical Targets and Biomarkers for Huntington's Disease Using an Integrative RNA-Seq Analytical Platform (BDASeq

João Rafael Dias Pinto, Benedito Faustinoni Neto, Luciana Munhoz, Irina Kerkis, Rodrigo Pinheiro Araldi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cells, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

João Rafael Dias PintoBioDecision Analytics Ltd., São Paulo 01451-917, SP, Brazil.
Benedito Faustinoni NetoBioDecision Analytics Ltd., São Paulo 01451-917, SP, Brazil.
Luciana MunhozBrazilian Huntington Disease Union House, Scientific Committee, São Paulo 01320-010, SP, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0003-2375-5935
Irina KerkisGenetics Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil.
Rodrigo Pinheiro AraldiBioDecision Analytics Ltd., São Paulo 01451-917, SP, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-8288-2577

Funding

FAPES 2023/06116-2, 2023/10353-0, 2024/07829-5, and 2024/17577-3
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHuntington's Disease (HD) remains without disease-modifying treatments, with existing therapies primarily targeting chorea symptoms and offering limited benefits. This study aims to identify druggable genes and potential biomarkers for HD, focusing on using RNA-Seq analysis to uncover molecular targets and improve clinical trial outcomes.

methodsWe reanalyzed transcriptomic data from six independent studies comparing cortex samples of HD patients and healthy controls. The Propensity Score Matching (PSM) algorithm was applied to match cases and controls by age. Differential expression analysis (DEA) coupled with machine learning algorithms were coupled to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and potential biomarkers in HD.

resultsOur analysis identified 5834 DEGs, including 394 putative druggable genes involved in processes like neuroinflammation, metal ion dysregulation, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction. These genes' expression levels correlated with CAG repeat length, disease onset, and progression. We also identified FTH1 as a promising biomarker for HD, with its expression downregulated in the prefrontal cortex and upregulated in peripheral blood in a CAG repeat-dependent manner.

conclusionsThis study highlights the potential of FTH1 as both a biomarker and a therapeutic target for HD. Advanced bioinformatics approaches like RNA-Seq and PSM are crucial for uncovering novel targets in HD, paving the way for better therapeutic interventions and improved clinical trial outcomes. Further validation of FTH1's role is needed to confirm its utility in HD.

Indexed as

BiomarkersBrainHuntington DiseaseRNA-SeqCase-Control StudiesFemaleGene Expression ProfilingHumansMaleMiddle AgedSequence Analysis, RNATranscriptomeBiomarkersbiomarkerblood–brain barrierCAG repeatdruggable genesFTH1Huntington’s diseaseneuroinflammationpropensity score matchingRNA-Seqtranscriptomics

Identifiers

PMID40643497
PMCPMC12249049

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.