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Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer disease: risk, mechanisms and therapy

A Correction to this article was published on 26 March 2013

This article has been updated

Abstract

Apolipoprotein E (Apo-E) is a major cholesterol carrier that supports lipid transport and injury repair in the brain. APOE polymorphic alleles are the main genetic determinants of Alzheimer disease (AD) risk: individuals carrying the ε4 allele are at increased risk of AD compared with those carrying the more common ε3 allele, whereas the ε2 allele decreases risk. Presence of the APOE ε4 allele is also associated with increased risk of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and age-related cognitive decline during normal ageing. Apo-E–lipoproteins bind to several cell-surface receptors to deliver lipids, and also to hydrophobic amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide, which is thought to initiate toxic events that lead to synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration in AD. Apo-E isoforms differentially regulate Aβ aggregation and clearance in the brain, and have distinct functions in regulating brain lipid transport, glucose metabolism, neuronal signalling, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial function. In this Review, we describe current knowledge on Apo-E in the CNS, with a particular emphasis on the clinical and pathological features associated with carriers of different Apo-E isoforms. We also discuss Aβ-dependent and Aβ-independent mechanisms that link Apo-E4 status with AD risk, and consider how to design effective strategies for AD therapy by targeting Apo-E.

Key Points

  • The ε4 allele of the apolipo protein E (APOE) gene is the main genetic risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD)

  • APOE ε4 carriers have enhanced AD pathology, accelerated age-dependent cognitive decline and worse memory performance than do noncarriers

  • Numerous structural and functional brain changes associated with AD pathogenesis are detected in APOE ε4 carriers before clinical symptoms become evident

  • Apo-E affects amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance, aggregation and deposition in an isoform-dependent manner

  • Apo-E4 also contributes to AD pathogenesis by Aβ-independent mechanisms that involve synaptic plasticity, cholesterol homeostasis, neurovascular functions, and neuroinflammation

  • Apo-E-targeted AD therapy should focus on restoration of the physiological function of Apo-E through increased expression and lipidation, and inhibition of the detrimental effects of Apo-E4

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Figure 1: APOE ε4 is a major genetic risk factor for AD.
Figure 2: Apolipoprotein E and amyloid-β metabolism in the brain.
Figure 3: The role of apolipoprotein E4 in Alzheimer disease pathogenesis.
Figure 4: Brain function, neuropathology and memory in cognitively normal APOE ε4 carriers.

Change history

  • 26 March 2013

    In the version of this article initially published, in the author list, Chia-Chen Liu's name was misspelt. The error has been corrected for the HTML and PDF versions of the article.

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Acknowledgements

Work in authors' laboratories is supported by the NIH, the Alzheimer's Association, the American Health Assistance Foundation, and Xiamen University Research Funds. We thank C. Stetler and O. Ross for critical reading of the manuscript before submission.

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Liu, CC., Kanekiyo, T., Xu, H. et al. Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer disease: risk, mechanisms and therapy. Nat Rev Neurol 9, 106–118 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2012.263

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