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.
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9046, USA. herz@utsw.swmed.edu
J
J
Herz
U
U
Beffert
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