Impact of Key Alzheimer's Protein Depends on Type of Brain Cell in Which It Is Produced
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Of all the known genetic risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, the strongest is a gene for the protein called ApoE4. People with one copy of this gene are 3.5 times more likely, on average, to develop Alzheimer's than others, and those with two copies face a 12-fold increased risk. However, exactly how ApoE4 boosts the risk of Alzheimer's remains unclear.
- Multiple types of cells in the brain make ApoE4—some of it is produced by neurons, but other brain cells called glia make it in higher quantities.
- Now, researchers at Gladstone Institutes are shining a brighter spotlight on ApoE4 produced by neurons.
- "Our findings suggest an opportunity to explore new treatments that would specifically target neuronal ApoE4 to protect against Alzheimer's disease."
- Most ApoE in our brains is produced by a type of glial cell called astrocytes, and previous research suggested that astrocytic ApoE4 contributes to Alzheimer's disease.