Apolipoprotein E receptors: linking brain development and Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that afflicts an increasing part of our ageing population. An isoform of apolipoprotein E, a protein that mediates the transport of lipids and cholesterol in the circulatory system, predisposes carriers of this allele to the common late-onset form of the disease. How this protein is related to a neurodegenerative disorder is an enigma. Mounting evidence indicates that apolipoprotein E receptors, which are abundantly expressed in most neurons in the central nervous system, also fulfill critical functions during brain development and may profoundly influence the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Herz
J
J
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9046, USA. herz@utsw.swmed.edu
Beffert
U
U
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D026503:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000502:physiology; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000502:physiology*; D018110:Receptors, Lipoprotein / Q000502:physiology*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D026503:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D018110:Receptors, Lipoprotein; C419409:amyloid beta-protein (29-40); D016875:tau Proteins