Apolipoprotein E - Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease

The E4 variant is the largest known genetic risk factor for late-onset sporadic Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in a variety of ethnic groups. Caucasian and Japanese carriers of 2 E4 alleles have between 10 and 30 times the risk of developing AD by 75 years of age, as compared to those not carrying any E4 alleles. While the exact mechanism of how E4 causes such dramatic effects remains to be fully determined, evidence has been presented suggesting an interaction with amyloid. Alzheimer's Disease is characterized by build-ups of aggregates of the peptide beta-amyloid. Apolipoprotein E enhances proteolytic break-down of this peptide, both within and between cells. Some isoforms of ApoE are not as efficient as others at catalyzing these reactions. In particular, the isoform ApoE-ε4 is not very effective, resulting in increased vulnerability to Alzheimer's in individuals with that gene variation.

The pivotal role of ApoE in AD was first identified through linkage analysis by Margaret Pericak-Vance while working in the Roses lab at Duke University Linkage studies were followed by association analysis confirming the role of the ApoE4 allele as a strong genetic risk factor for AD.

Although 40-65% of AD patients have at least one copy of the 4 allele, ApoE4 is not a determinant of the disease - at least a third of patients with AD are ApoE4 negative and some ApoE4 homozygotes never develop the disease. Yet those with two e4 alleles have up to 20 times the risk of developing AD. There is also evidence that the ApoE2 allele may serve a protective role in AD. Thus, the genotype most at risk for Alzheimer's disease and at earlier age is ApoE 4,4. The ApoE 3,4 genotype is at increased risk, though not to the degree that those homozygous for ApoE 4 are. The genotype ApoE 3,3 is considered at normal risk for Alzheimer's disease. The genotype ApoE 2,3 is considered at less risk for Alzheimer's disease. Interestingly, people with both a copy of the 2 allele and the 4 allele, ApoE 2,4, are at normal risk similar to the ApoE 3,3 genotype.

The connection between neuron failure in Alzheimer's disease and depleted myelin cholesterol (via ApoE deficiency) has also been described in Cholesterol Depletion and consequently is a known statin therapy adverse drug reaction.