Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

RHBDF2

rhomboid 5 homolog 2

translation score 0.60, read 2026-10-20; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.07 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enhanced in microglia (321 nCPM)1.00
chemistry
Open Targets
reachable by antibody0.45
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
1 Parkinson's papers of 810.91
pathways
Reactome
1 pathway; mostly immune signalling0.90
proposal for RHBDF2, translation score 0.60

Knock down and overexpress RHBDF2 in microglia; measure IL-1β and TNF release and surface HLA-DR and uptake and clearance of α-synuclein fibrils and NLRP3 inflammasome activation (IL-1β release).

Cell type
microglia
Direction
Both arms: public data does not say which way helps.
Molecular readout
IL-1β and TNF release and surface HLA-DR
Functional readout
uptake and clearance of α-synuclein fibrils and NLRP3 inflammasome activation (IL-1β release)
Rule-out
If neither arm moves IL-1β 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 RHBDF2 in iPSC-derived microglia (iMGL); n = 3 differentiations; readouts: IL-1β and TNF release and surface HLA-DR; uptake and clearance of α-synuclein fibrils and NLRP3 inflammasome activation (IL-1β release). Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. RHBDF2 in dopamine neurons, braak-0.41 (p 0.269) → -0.58 (p 0.102)receipt 4109
  2. RHBDF2 in microglia, braak-0.41 (p 0.273) → -0.04 (p 0.912)receipt 4108

Swarm cases

receipt 4109: RHBDF2 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample -0.47 (p 0.051, n 18), 95% CI -0.77 to +0.00. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.44 (p 0.070, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: -0.50 (p 0.035, n 18). not the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.57 to -0.41, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors -0.47 (p 0.051, n 18). robust.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for RHBDF2 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

receipt 4108: RHBDF2 in microglia, braak

power
full sample -0.34 (p 0.173, n 18), 95% CI -0.69 to +0.16. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.36 (p 0.140, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
microglia share of nuclei vs axis -0.11 (p 0.652); controlling for it: -0.36 (p 0.140, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.53 to -0.25, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors -0.34 (p 0.173, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for RHBDF2 in microglia.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

loading the receipts