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Dysregulations of C1QA, C1QB, C1QC and C5AR1 as candidate biomarkers of vascular dementia
Yawen Xu, Hailing Zhang, Xuehao Jiao, Yanbo Zhang, Ge Yin, Cui Wang, Zengkan Du, Meng Liang et al.. npj Aging, 2025-05-25
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common cause of dementia. Few bioinformatic analysis has been done to explore its biomarkers. This study aimed to excavate potential biomarkers for VaD using bioinformatic analysis and validate them at both animal and patient levels. Based on microarray data of GSE122063, bioinformatic analysis revealed 502 DEGs in the frontal and 674 DEGs in the temporal cortex of VaD patients. Afterward, the hub genes between two regions, including C1QA, C1QB, C1QC, and C5AR1, were dugout. Interestingly, compared with sham mice or controls, the above four complements were highly expressed in the cortices of VaD animals and in the peripheral serum of VaD patients. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis conformed to good diagnostic powers of these complements, with C1QB having the most prominent capacity (AUC = 0.799, 95%CI 0.722-0.875). That means the complements, especially subunits of C1Q, might be used as specific early VaD diagnostic biomarkers.
Key findings
- Based on microarray data of GSE122063, bioinformatic analysis revealed 502 DEGs in the frontal and 674 DEGs in the temporal cortex of VaD patients.
- Interestingly, compared with sham mice or controls, the above four complements were highly expressed in the cortices of VaD animals and in the peripheral serum of VaD patients.
Why it matters
Bioinformatic analysis and validation in animals and patient serum found that complement genes C1QA, C1QB, C1QC and C5AR1 were highly expressed in vascular dementia and showed good diagnostic power. These are candidate early diagnostic biomarkers, not a treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Effect sizeAUC = 0.799
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (npj Aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Npj Aging: journal h-index 31 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Xiaoying Bi: h-index 25 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Alberta: institution h-index 1,174 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 11 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40414977) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Xu, Y., Zhang, H., Jiao, X., Zhang, Y., Yin, G., Wang, C., et al. (2025). Dysregulations of C1QA, C1QB, C1QC and C5AR1 as candidate biomarkers of vascular dementia. npj Aging. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41514-025-00228-x
Vancouver
Xu Y, Zhang H, Jiao X, Zhang Y, Yin G, Wang C, et al. Dysregulations of C1QA, C1QB, C1QC and C5AR1 as candidate biomarkers of vascular dementia. npj Aging. 2025. doi:10.1038/s41514-025-00228-x. PMID: 40414977.
BibTeX
@article{xu2025-40414977,
author = {Xu, Yawen and Zhang, Hailing and Jiao, Xuehao and Zhang, Yanbo and Yin, Ge and Wang, Cui and Du, Zengkan and Liang, Meng and others},
title = {{Dysregulations of C1QA, C1QB, C1QC and C5AR1 as candidate biomarkers of vascular dementia}},
journal = {npj Aging},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1038/s41514-025-00228-x},
pmid = {40414977},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41514-025-00228-x}
}
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