A Multi-omics Data Resource for Frontotemporal Dementia Research.

Abstract

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease with high heritability. Almost half of all familial cases are caused by mutations in one of the three genes MAPT, GRN and C9orf72. Even though major advances in FTD research have been achieved during the last decades, it is not yet fully understood how mutations in these diverse genes lead to the disease. To improve our understanding of FTD, the Risk and Modifying Factors in Frontotemporal Dementia (RiMod-FTD) consortium has created an FTD-specific multi-omics data resource. Using multiple omics technologies on post-mortem brain tissue from patients with mutations in GRN, MAPT or C9orf72 and healthy controls, the resource aims to provide a comprehensive cellular profile of FTD. Furthermore, brain tissue from multiple mouse models and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived neuronal cultures were profiled with similar multi-omics technologies to make up for the shortcomings of post-mortem brain tissue. All data are publicly available to all researchers, and ongoing efforts aim to increase the available datasets and to improve their accessibility. The RiMod-FTD resource represents a uniquely valuable dataset for the field of FTD research, which we hope will accelerate the scientific progress in the field.