Apolipoprotein (apo) E4 enhances amyloid beta peptide production in cultured neuronal cells: apoE structure as a potential therapeutic target.
Apolipoprotein (apo) E4 is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, and many studies have suggested that apoE has isoform-specific effects on the deposition or clearance of amyloid beta (Abeta) peptides. We examined the effects of apoE isoforms on the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and on Abeta production in rat neuroblastoma B103 cells stably transfected with human wild-type APP695 (B103-APP). Lipid-poor apoE4 increased Abeta production in B103-APP cells to a greater extent than lipid-poor apoE3 (60% vs. 30%) due to more pronounced stimulation of APP recycling by apoE4 than apoE3. The difference in Abeta production was abolished by preincubating the cells with the receptor-associated protein (25 nM), which blocks the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) pathway, or by reducing LRP expression by small interference RNA. The differences were also attenuated by replacing Arg-61 with threonine in apoE4 or pretreating apoE4 with small molecules, both of which abolish apoE4 intramolecular domain interaction. Thus, apoE4 appears to modulate APP processing and Abeta production through both the LRP pathway and domain interaction. These findings provide insights into why apoE4 is associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and may represent a potential target for drug development.
Ye
Shiming
S
Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
Huang
Yadong
Y
Müllendorff
Karin
K
Dong
Liming
L
Giedt
Gretchen
G
Meng
Elaine C
EC
Cohen
Fred E
FE
Kuntz
Irwin D
ID
Weisgraber
Karl H
KH
Mahley
Robert W
RW
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D053318:Apolipoprotein E3; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D026502:LDL-Receptor Related Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D053318:Apolipoprotein E3; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D026502:LDL-Receptor Related Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D002784:Cholesterol