title: Plaque attack. Mice without ApoE and related protein unexpectedly accumulate beta-amyloid deposits.
abstract: A person can toss her wadded-up burger wrapper into either the gutter or a trash bin. New work establishes that ApoE, a protein connected to Alzheimer's disease (AD), makes a similar choice. Mouse studies have suggested that ApoE encourages formation of the beta-amyloid plaques that gum up patients' brains. But scientists now suggest that ApoE helps clear beta amyloid from the brain before it forms plaques. The results warn that targeting ApoE as an AD treatment will require balancing its positive and negative influences.
authors.forename: R John
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Davenport
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001057:Apolipoproteins E