title: Interactions of metals and Apolipoprotein E in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which is characterized by the neuropathological accumulation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Clinically, patients will endure a gradual erosion of memory and other higher order cognitive functions. Whilst the underlying etiology of the disease remains to be definitively identified, a body of work has developed over the last two decades demonstrating that AD plasma/serum and brain are characterized by a dyshomeostasis in a number of metal ions. Furthermore, these metals (such as zinc, copper and iron) play roles in the regulation of the levels of AD-related proteins, including the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau. It is becoming apparent that metals also interact with other proteins, including apolipoprotein E (ApoE). The Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) is critically associated with AD, with APOE4 representing the strongest genetic risk factor for the development of late-onset AD. In this review we will summarize the evidence supporting a role for metals in the function of ApoE and its consequent role in the pathogenesis of AD.
authors: The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: He
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: David I
authors: DI
authors: Finkelstein
authors: The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Adlard
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Apolipoprotein E; copper; metals; zinc