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Apolipoprotein E mRNA in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease
T Yamada1, A Kondo, J Takamatsu
1Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Abstract:
To clarify the role of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), we used an RT-PCR method to investigate apoE and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA expression in the brain. ApoE mRNA was significantly more abundant in AD (0.379 +/- 0.191, mean +/- SD) than in control (0.125 +/- 0.073, p < 0.05) brain tissue, but in AD it was decreased in relation to the apoE-epsilon 4 gene dosage. The GFAP mRNA content also was greater in AD (5.96 +/- 2.94) than in control (3.80 +/- 2.78) tissue, and in AD showed an increase relative to the apoE-epsilon 4 gene dosage. AD patients who had long survival times showed high expression of apoE and low expression of GFAP. These results suggest that apoE suppresses the progression of AD, including gliosis, in the brain.
Insights
Apolipoprotein E (apoE) may suppress Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. Higher apoE mRNA in AD brains suggests a protective role, while glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) indicates increased gliosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
- The role of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in AD pathophysiology requires clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of apoE and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA in AD brain tissue.
- To determine the relationship between apoE gene dosage and mRNA expression levels.
Main Methods:
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify apoE and GFAP mRNA levels.
- Brain tissue samples from AD patients and controls were analyzed.
Main Results:
- ApoE mRNA was significantly higher in AD brain tissue compared to controls.
- In AD, apoE mRNA expression decreased with higher apoE-epsilon 4 gene dosage.
- GFAP mRNA levels were elevated in AD and increased with apoE-epsilon 4 gene dosage.
- Longer survival in AD patients correlated with high apoE and low GFAP expression.
Conclusions:
- Apolipoprotein E (apoE) appears to suppress Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression.
- apoE may mitigate gliosis in the brain, a hallmark of neurodegeneration.