Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

TLR7

toll like receptor 7

translation score 0.60, read 2026-10-19; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.08 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enhanced, including microglia; strongest in pdcs0.75
chemistry
Open Targets
compounds already reach it: cpg-52852, hydroxychloroquine, bazlitoran +91.00
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
1 Parkinson's trial, 0 stopped1.00
literature
PubMed
8 Parkinson's papers of 5,7560.71
pathways
Reactome
11 pathways; mostly vesicle traffic1.00
proposal for TLR7, translation score 0.60

Knock down and overexpress TLR7 in microglia; measure LRRK2 kinase activity (pT73-Rab10) and lysosome position 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; existing compounds already reach the inhibition arm.
Molecular readout
LRRK2 kinase activity (pT73-Rab10) and lysosome position
Functional readout
uptake and clearance of α-synuclein fibrils and NLRP3 inflammasome activation (IL-1β release)
Rule-out
If neither arm moves LRRK2 kinase activity (pT73-Rab10) 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 TLR7 in iPSC-derived microglia (iMGL); n = 3 differentiations; readouts: LRRK2 kinase activity (pT73-Rab10) and lysosome position; 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. TLR7 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.19 (p 0.618) → +0.28 (p 0.470)receipt 3335
  2. TLR7 in microglia, braak+0.53 (p 0.145) → +0.55 (p 0.122)receipt 3334

Swarm cases

receipt 3335: TLR7 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.23 (p 0.369, n 18), 95% CI -0.27 to +0.63. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.23 (p 0.369, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.18 (p 0.471, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.11 to +0.32, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.23 (p 0.369, n 18). fragile.
cell type
strongest in microglia: +0.59 (p 0.0092, n 18) vs +0.23 in dopamine neurons. proposing microglia.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for TLR7 in dopamine neurons.

follow-up registered; not confirmed in substantia nigra, an independent cohort.
follow-up TLR7 · microglia · braak: substantia nigra, an independent cohort (Parkinson's or LBD vs controls) +0.23 p 0.424 (needs p < 5.6e-4)

receipt 3334: TLR7 in microglia, braak

power
full sample +0.59 (p 0.0092, n 18), 95% CI +0.18 to +0.83. the interval excludes zero: something may be there, smaller than a half can see.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.59 (p 0.0092, n 18). holds up.
composition
microglia share of nuclei vs axis -0.11 (p 0.652); controlling for it: +0.69 (p 0.0015, n 18). not the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.54 to +0.77, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.59 (p 0.0092, n 18). robust.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for TLR7 in microglia.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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