Dietary deficiency in folate and vitamin E under conditions of oxidative stress increases phospho-tau levels: potentiation by ApoE4 and alleviation by S-adenosylmethionine.
Prior studies link dietary deficiency and genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present report, mice expressing human apolipoprotein E4 (associated with increased risk of AD) and apolipoprotein E3 were subjected to a diet lacking folate and vitamin E, and containing iron as a pro-oxidant. Consistent with prior studies, E4 mice displayed more phospho-tau than E3 mice prior to dietary challenge. The deficient diet increased phospho-tau in E4 but not E3 mice, which was prevented by S-adenosyl methionine supplementation. Since neurofibrillary tangles are comprised of phospho-tau, investigation of the impact of dietary deficiency and S-adenosyl methionine supplementation on neurofibrillary tangle formation are warranted.
Center for Cellular Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
Amy
A
Chan
Eugene
E
Rogers
Thomas B
TB
Shea
D000818:Animals; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D016875:tau Proteins; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine