Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

IL6ST

interleukin 6 cytokine family signal transducer

translation score 0.59, read 2026-10-22; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.04 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enhanced, including microglia; strongest in endometrial glandular cells0.75
chemistry
Open Targets
compounds already reach it: satralizumab0.90
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
5 Parkinson's papers of 4270.76
pathways
Reactome
7 pathways; mostly immune signalling0.90
proposal for IL6ST, translation score 0.59

Knock down and overexpress IL6ST 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; existing compounds already reach the inhibition arm.
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 IL6ST 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. IL6ST in dopamine neurons, braak+0.09 (p 0.821) → +0.05 (p 0.891)receipt 5893
  2. IL6ST in microglia, braak-0.18 (p 0.646) → +0.38 (p 0.311)receipt 5892

Swarm cases

receipt 5893: IL6ST in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.10 (p 0.702, n 18), 95% CI -0.39 to +0.54. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.11 (p 0.671, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.11 (p 0.677, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.02 to +0.18, sign flips 4; without severely affected donors +0.10 (p 0.702, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for IL6ST in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

receipt 5892: IL6ST in microglia, braak

power
full sample +0.07 (p 0.794, n 18), 95% CI -0.41 to +0.52. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.07 (p 0.794, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
microglia share of nuclei vs axis -0.11 (p 0.652); controlling for it: +0.18 (p 0.471, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.02 to +0.22, sign flips 3; without severely affected donors +0.07 (p 0.794, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for IL6ST in microglia.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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