Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

FGF23

fibroblast growth factor 23

translation score 0.57, read 2026-10-26; 1 sealed predictions, 0 held; 1 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.01 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
enriched in the midbrain (28 nTPM), where the nigral dopamine neurons sit0.90
chemistry
Open Targets
compounds already reach it: burosumab0.90
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
7 Parkinson's papers of 5,5850.73
pathways
Reactome
40 pathways; mostly growth signalling0.60
proposal for FGF23, translation score 0.57

Knock down and overexpress FGF23 in dopamine neurons; measure phospho-ERK and phospho-AKT response to GDNF and survival of TH-positive neurons and phospho-α-synuclein (pS129) inclusions after seeding with α-synuclein fibrils.

Cell type
dopamine neurons
Direction
Both arms: public data does not say which way helps; existing compounds already reach the inhibition arm.
Molecular readout
phospho-ERK and phospho-AKT response to GDNF
Functional readout
survival of TH-positive neurons and phospho-α-synuclein (pS129) inclusions after seeding with α-synuclein fibrils
Rule-out
If neither arm moves phospho-ERK by 20% or more against non-targeting and empty-vector controls, across three independent differentiations, the hypothesis is wrong.
Lab request
CRISPRi knockdown and lentiviral overexpression of FGF23 in iPSC-derived midbrain dopamine neurons (FOXA2+, LMX1A+, TH+); n = 3 differentiations; readouts: phospho-ERK and phospho-AKT response to GDNF; survival of TH-positive neurons and phospho-α-synuclein (pS129) inclusions after seeding with α-synuclein fibrils. Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. FGF23 in dopamine neurons, braak-0.03 (p 0.946) → +0.19 (p 0.623)receipt 10837

Swarm cases

receipt 10837: FGF23 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.07 (p 0.794, n 18), 95% CI -0.41 to +0.52. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.12 (p 0.640, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: -0.05 (p 0.847, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.04 to +0.20, sign flips 3; without severely affected donors +0.07 (p 0.794, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for FGF23 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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