SREBP-1a polymorphism influences the risk of Alzheimer's disease in carriers of the ApoE4 allele.
Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are transcription factors involved in cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis. Recently, a polymorphism in the 5'-region of the SREBP-1a gene has been described to be correlated with alterations in the plasma levels of cholesterol. Consequently the relationship between this SREBP-1a gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) alone and in combination with the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) 4 allele was evaluated. No association between SREBP-1a polymorphism alone and AD could be seen. However, in the group of healthy ApoE4 allele carriers, the number of homozygote SREBP-1a DeltaG allele carriers was significantly higher than in AD patients. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of cholesterol were lower in AD patients who were carriers of the SREBP-1a DeltaG allele, and the ratio of 24S-hydroxycholesterol to cholesterol was increased in these probands. Our data suggest a reduced risk of AD in carriers of an ApoE4 allele who are additionally homozygous for the SREBP-1a DeltaG allele, which is possibly due to the influence of SREBP-1a polymorphism on brain cholesterol metabolism. This is the first report on a genetic factor which prevents the deleterious effect of the ApoE4 allele and thus reduces the risk of AD.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Christian
C
Spell
Heike
H
Kölsch
Dieter
D
Lütjohann
Anja
A
Kerksiek
Frank
F
Hentschel
Marinella
M
Damian
Klaus
K
von Bergmann
Marie Luise
ML
Rao
Wolfgang
W
Maier
Reinhard
R
Heun
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D000098825:Oxysterol Binding Proteins
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C497387:SREBF1 protein, human; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000098825:Oxysterol Binding Proteins