Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele is associated with deposition of amyloid beta-protein following head injury.
Deposition of amyloid beta-protein (A beta) in the brain plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele (apo E-epsilon 4) is a strong risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, and there is in vitro evidence that apo E is directly involved in A beta deposition. Head injury is an epidemiological risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and deposition of A beta occurs in approximately one-third of individuals dying after a severe head injury. We report here that the frequency of apo E-epsilon 4 in those individuals with A beta deposition following head injury (0.52) is higher than in most studies of Alzheimer's disease, while in those head-injured individuals without A beta deposition the apo E-epsilon 4 frequency (0.16) is similar to controls without Alzheimer's disease (P < 0.00001). This finding provides further evidence linking apo E-epsilon 4 with A beta deposition in vivo and suggests that known environmental and genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease may act additively. In addition our finding indicates a genetic susceptibility to the effects of a head injury.
Nicoll
J A
JA
Department of Neuropathology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Roberts
G W
GW
Graham
D I
DI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018628:Gene Dosage; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E