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Published on: July 14, 2016
Alpha-2 macroglobulin is genetically associated with Alzheimer disease
D Blacker1, M A Wilcox, N M Laird
1Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA.
A deletion in the Alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) gene increases Alzheimer disease risk. This genetic link suggests A2M may play a role in Alzheimer disease development, similar to APOE-epsilon4.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha-2M) is a serum protease inhibitor involved in amyloid-beta clearance.
- Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by beta-amyloid deposits, a key component alpha-2M can degrade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between a specific A2M gene deletion (A2M-2) and Alzheimer disease risk.
- To compare the risk conferred by A2M-2 with the well-established APOE-epsilon4 allele.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a deletion in the A2M gene at the 5' splice site of exon II.
- Statistical analysis including Mantel-Haenzel odds ratio and sibship disequilibrium test (SDT).
- Comparison with APOE-epsilon4 allele data from the same sample.
Main Results:
- Inheritance of the A2M-2 deletion significantly increases AD risk (OR=3.56, P=0.001).
- SDT confirmed a significant association between A2M and AD (P=0.00009).
- A2M-2 did not influence age of onset, unlike APOE-epsilon4.
Conclusions:
- The A2M gene deletion is a risk factor for Alzheimer disease.
- A2M, LRP1, APOE, and APP genes linked to AD suggest a common neuropathogenic pathway.
- A2M may contribute to AD pathogenesis through its role in amyloid-beta processing.
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