Long-read RNA sequencing atlas of human microglia isoforms elucidates disease-associated genetic regulation of splicing

Abstract

Microglia, the innate immune cells of the central nervous system, have been genetically implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Mapping the genetics of gene expression in human microglia has identified several loci associated with disease-associated genetic variants in microglia-specific regulatory elements. However, identifying genetic effects on splicing is challenging because of the use of short sequencing reads. Here, we present the isoform-centric microglia genomic atlas (isoMiGA), which leverages long-read RNA sequencing to identify 35,879 novel microglia isoforms. We show that these isoforms are involved in stimulation response and brain region specificity. We then quantified the expression of both known and novel isoforms in a multi-ancestry meta-analysis of 555 human microglia short-read RNA sequencing samples from 391 donors, and found associations with genetic risk loci in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. We nominate several loci that may act through complex changes in isoform and splice-site usage. This isoform-centric microglia genomic atlas includes 35,879 novel human microglia isoforms identified by long-read RNA sequencing. A multi-ancestry quantitative trait locus meta-analysis of known and novel isoforms in 555 samples from 391 donors finds associations with genetic risk loci in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.