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Apolipoprotein E and LRP1 Increase Early in Parkinson's Disease Pathogenesis
Micha M M Wilhelmus1, John G J M Bol, Elise S Van Haastert
1Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.wilhelmus@vumc.nl
The American Journal of Pathology
|September 13, 2011
Summary
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) expression and its receptor are found in Parkinson's disease (PD) brain cells and Lewy bodies (LBs). This suggests early lipoprotein signaling changes contribute to PD pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) involves α-synuclein Lewy bodies (LBs) and neuron loss in the substantia nigra (SN).
- A potential link between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) expression, α-synuclein aggregation, and neurodegeneration has been proposed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and its receptor in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis.
- To examine ApoE expression in melanized neurons and Lewy bodies (LBs) in PD and incidental LB disease.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of brain tissue from PD and incidental LB disease cases.
- Assessment of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) expression in the substantia nigra (SN).
Main Results:
- Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) expression was detected in substantia nigra (SN) melanized neurons and Lewy bodies (LBs) in both Parkinson's disease (PD) and incidental LB disease.
- Increased expression of the ApoE receptor, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), was observed in incidental LB disease and PD cases.
Conclusions:
- Alterations in lipoprotein homeostasis and signaling within substantia nigra (SN) melanized neurons appear to be an early event in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis.
- These findings highlight a novel pathway involving ApoE and LRP1 in the early stages of PD.
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