A new polymorphism in the APOE promoter associated with risk of developing Alzheimer's disease

The epsilon4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE), one of the main allele of APOE polymorphism, is a major risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease. However, several data suggest that genetic factors, within the APOE locus, may also modulate the risk associated with this polymorphism. We look for new mutations in the APOE promoter, susceptible to modify the risk associated with the APOE epsilon4 allele. We characterised a G-->T mutation at -186 bp of the APOE gene TATA box, named Th1/E47cs. This new polymorphism is located in a consensus sequence of a potential transcriptional (Th1/E47) factor binding site. We studied the impact of this new polymorphism with those of other markers of the APOE locus in a large case-control study and observed that Th1/E47cs modulated the influence of the APOE epsilon4 allele on the risk of Alzheimer's disease.