Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

SLC25A18

solute carrier family 25 member 18

translation score 0.62, read 2026-10-28; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.00 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
group enriched in astrocytes (345 nCPM)1.00
chemistry
Open Targets
reachable by antibody0.36
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
no papers tie it to Parkinson's yet1.00
pathways
Reactome
2 pathways; mostly dopamine synapse1.00
proposal for SLC25A18, translation score 0.62

Knock down and overexpress SLC25A18 in astrocytes; measure evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake 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.
Molecular readout
evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake
Functional readout
α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture
Rule-out
If neither arm moves evoked dopamine release 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 SLC25A18 in iPSC-derived midbrain astrocytes; n = 3 differentiations; readouts: evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake; 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. SLC25A18 in dopamine neurons, braak-0.04 (p 0.928) → -0.64 (p 0.063)receipt 12735
  2. SLC25A18 in astrocytes, braak-0.22 (p 0.576) → +0.56 (p 0.116)receipt 12734

Swarm cases

receipt 12735: SLC25A18 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample -0.34 (p 0.164, n 18), 95% CI -0.70 to +0.15. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.31 (p 0.204, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: -0.31 (p 0.204, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.48 to -0.24, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors -0.34 (p 0.164, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for SLC25A18 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

receipt 12734: SLC25A18 in astrocytes, braak

power
full sample +0.19 (p 0.444, n 18), 95% CI -0.30 to +0.60. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.19 (p 0.444, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
astrocytes share of nuclei vs axis -0.21 (p 0.413); controlling for it: +0.54 (p 0.022, n 18). not the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.09 to +0.35, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.19 (p 0.444, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for SLC25A18 in astrocytes.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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