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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Visualization of Amyloid β Deposits in the Human Brain with Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Imaging Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 7, 2019
Co-localization of cholesterol, apolipoprotein E and fibrillar Abeta in amyloid plaques
Mark P Burns1, Wendy J Noble, Vicki Olm
1Center for Dementia Research, Nathan S. Kline Institute, 140 Old Orangeburg Rd, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA. burns@nki.rfmh.org
Abstract:
Recent evidence strongly suggests a role for cholesterol and apolipoprotein E in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. We have demonstrated the co-localization of cholesterol and apolipoprotein E with beta-amyloid immunoreactivity and thioflavin S immunofluorescence in AD type plaques of a transgenic mouse model. Cholesterol and apolipoprotein E co-localized to the core of thioflavin S-positive (fibrillar) plaques, but not thioflavin S-negative (diffuse) plaques from an early age. By 18 months of age, there was extensive coverage of fibrillar plaques immunopositive for apolipoprotein E and cholesterol oxidase. These findings support evidence that cholesterol and apolipoprotein E are involved in fibrillar plaque formation or maintenance, and suggest that cholesterol may impact amyloid formation extracellularly, as well as through an intracellular effect.
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