Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

SCN11A

sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 11

translation score 0.57, read 2026-10-16; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.52 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enhanced, including astrocytes; strongest in papillary tip epithelial cells0.75
chemistry
Open Targets
compounds already reach it: primidone, propafenone, eslicarbazepine acetate +701.00
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
1 Parkinson's trial, 0 stopped1.00
literature
PubMed
no papers tie it to Parkinson's yet1.00
pathways
Reactome
2 pathways; mostly other0.30
proposal for SCN11A, translation score 0.57

Knock down and overexpress SCN11A in astrocytes; measure a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq) and α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture.

Cell type
astrocytes
Direction
Both arms: public data does not say which way helps; existing compounds already reach the inhibition arm.
Molecular readout
a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq)
Functional readout
α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture
Rule-out
If neither arm moves a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq) 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 SCN11A in iPSC-derived midbrain astrocytes; n = 3 differentiations; readouts: a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq); α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture. Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. SCN11A in dopamine neurons, braak+0.43 (p 0.247) → -0.05 (p 0.893)receipt 0198
  2. SCN11A in astrocytes, braak-0.17 (p 0.656) → +0.01 (p 0.982)receipt 0197

Swarm cases

receipt 0198: SCN11A in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.17 (p 0.493, n 18), 95% CI -0.32 to +0.59. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.18 (p 0.465, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.16 (p 0.521, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.08 to +0.32, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.17 (p 0.493, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for SCN11A in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

receipt 0197: SCN11A in astrocytes, braak

power
full sample -0.15 (p 0.555, n 18), 95% CI -0.58 to +0.34. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.15 (p 0.555, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
astrocytes share of nuclei vs axis -0.21 (p 0.413); controlling for it: -0.22 (p 0.379, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.29 to -0.05, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors -0.15 (p 0.555, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for SCN11A in astrocytes.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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