Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

CDK18

cyclin dependent kinase 18

translation score 0.56, read 2026-10-26; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.01 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enriched in oligodendrocytes (553 nCPM)1.00
chemistry
Open Targets
compounds already reach it: azd-5438, at-7519, roniciclib +10.90
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
in no curated pathway0.00
proposal for CDK18, translation score 0.56

Knock down and overexpress CDK18 in oligodendrocytes; measure a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq) and α-synuclein uptake and myelin basic protein output under oxidative stress.

Cell type
oligodendrocytes
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 myelin basic protein output under oxidative stress
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 CDK18 in iPSC-derived oligodendrocytes; n = 3 differentiations; readouts: a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq); α-synuclein uptake and myelin basic protein output under oxidative stress. Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. CDK18 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.10 (p 0.802) → -0.20 (p 0.615)receipt 11154
  2. CDK18 in oligodendrocytes, braak-0.44 (p 0.232) → +0.25 (p 0.517)receipt 11153

Swarm cases

receipt 11154: CDK18 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.01 (p 0.976, n 18), 95% CI -0.46 to +0.47. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.01 (p 0.976, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.02 (p 0.935, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.14 to +0.10, sign flips 6; without severely affected donors +0.01 (p 0.976, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for CDK18 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

receipt 11153: CDK18 in oligodendrocytes, braak

power
full sample -0.17 (p 0.493, n 18), 95% CI -0.59 to +0.32. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.08 (p 0.754, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
oligodendrocytes share of nuclei vs axis +0.03 (p 0.915); controlling for it: +0.02 (p 0.949, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.29 to -0.07, 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 CDK18 in oligodendrocytes.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

loading the receipts