Is Alzheimer's disease an apolipoprotein E amyloidosis?
The presence of the apolipoprotein E4 allele has been identified as a major risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein E has also been found immunohistochemically in Alzheimer's disease lesions. We biochemically isolated amyloid beta from senile plaques and found that a carboxyl-terminal fragment (residues 216-299) of apolipoprotein E co-purified. In vitro this fragment from recombinant apolipoprotein E could form amyloid-like fibrils, which were Congo-red positive. Thus senile plaques may contain both amyloid beta and apolipoprotein E amyloid fibrils.
Wisniewski
T
T
Department of Pathology, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016, USA.
Lalowski
M
M
Golabek
A
A
Vogel
T
T
Frangione
B
B
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000032:analysis*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001057:Apolipoproteins E