Identification of epithelial membrane protein 3 as a novel biomarker in Alzheimer's disease that involves in amyloid-β-induced inflammatory response

Chronic neuroinflammation is a major contributor to neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. In this study, bioinformatic analyses identified differentially expressed inflammatory response genes across multiple AD-affected brain regions. Among these, epithelial membrane protein 3 (EMP3), a putative regulator of macrophage and T cell immune responses, was found to be dysregulated in both human AD brain tissues and in AD animal models, including 3 × Tg-AD mice. Functional validation using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated EMP3 knockout in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells demonstrated that EMP3 deletion attenuated Aβ-induced suppression of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Western blot analysis further revealed a reduction in GSK3β phosphorylation in EMP3-deficient cells following Aβ exposure, possibly by effected its upstream regulator. Notably, GSK3β overactivation has been associated with memory impairment, tau hyperphosphorylation, and enhanced Aβ production in AD. Transcriptomic profiling via RNA sequencing uncovered altered expression of several inflammatory genes involved in the downstream response to Aβ, including key regulators such as TLR2, S100A10, and CD44. The association between EMP3 and inflammatory pathways was further supported by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and immune infiltration analysis. Collectively, these findings suggest that EMP3 may serve as a critical modulator of neuroinflammatory processes in AD pathogenesis and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for future interventions.