Cited by 912Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsLipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health

Apolipoprotein E4: A causative factor and therapeutic target in neuropathology, including Alzheimer’s disease

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Mahley, Robert W., Weisgraber, Karl H., Huang, Yadong·2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The premise of this review is that apolipoprotein (apo) E4 is much more than a contributing factor to neurodegeneration. ApoE has critical functions in redistributing lipids among CNS cells for normal lipid homeostasis, repairing injured neurons, maintaining synapto-dendritic connections, and scavenging toxins. In multiple pathways affecting neuropathology, including Alzheimer’s disease, apoE acts directly or in concert with age, head injury, oxidative stress, ischemia, inflammation, and excess amyloid β peptide production to cause neurological disorders, accelerating progression, altering prognosis, or lowering age of onset. We envision that unique structural features of apoE4 are responsible for apoE4-associated neuropathology. Although the structures of apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4 are in dynamic equilibrium, apoE4, which is detrimental in a variety of neurological disorders, is more likely to assume a pathological conformation. Importantly, apoE4 displays domain interaction (an interaction between the N- and C-terminal domains of the protein that results in a compact structure) and molten globule formation (the formation of stable, reactive intermediates with potentially pathological activities). In response to CNS stress or injury, neurons can synthesize apoE. ApoE4 uniquely undergoes neuron-specific proteolysis, resulting in bioactive toxic fragments that enter the cytosol, alter the cytoskeleton, disrupt mitochondrial energy balance, and cause cell death. Our findings suggest potential therapeutic strategies, including the use of “structure correctors” to convert apoE4 to an “apoE3-like” molecule, protease inhibitors to prevent the generation of toxic apoE4 fragments, and “mitochondrial protectors” to prevent cellular energy disruption.

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Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.0600549103

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  • APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

    “Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD)1–3.”

    From The APOE-R136S mutation protects against APOE4-driven tau pathology, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation (2023) · cites this paper as [2]

    The “ApoE and Neuropathology” section calls apoE4 the major known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in many populations. It does not specify late-onset disease, and the citing sentence omits the population qualifier. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Most AD patients have sporadic late-onset AD, in which the APOE gene contains a predominant risk variant.

    “Most AD patients have sporadic late-onset AD (LOAD), in which the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene contains a predominant risk variant6,7.”

    From <i>APOE3</i> - <i>R136S</i> mutation confers resilience against tau pathology via cGAS-STING-IFN inhibition (2024) · cites this paper as [6]

    The ‘ApoE and Neuropathology’ section identifies apoE4 as the major known genetic risk factor for AD in many populations. It does not establish that most AD patients have sporadic late-onset AD or specifically tie that risk-factor statement to late-onset disease. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In neurons, apoE4 is associated with impaired mitochondrial respiration.

    “In neurons, apoE4 is associated with impaired mitochondrial respiration”

    From Neuronal Apolipoprotein E4 Expression Results in Proteome-Wide Alterations and Compromises Bioenergetic Capacity by Disrupting Mitochondrial Function (2019) · cites this paper as [10]

    The section “ApoE4 Neuropathology Independent of Aβ” (page unavailable) associates apoE4 with reduced neuronal glucose utilization and describes mitochondrial dysfunction in cultured neurons. That supports impaired mitochondrial function, but the paper does not specifically establish impaired mitochondrial respiration. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The largest apoE4 fragment, apoE4(1-272), causes mitochondrial fragmentation.

    “and cause mitochondrial fragmentation [10, 17, 20]”

    From Neuronal Apolipoprotein E4 Expression Results in Proteome-Wide Alterations and Compromises Bioenergetic Capacity by Disrupting Mitochondrial Function (2019) · cites this paper as [10]

    In “ApoE4 Neuropathology Independent of Aβ” (page unavailable), the paper says apoE4(1-272) accumulates in mitochondria and describes mitochondrial dysfunction associated with apoE fragments. It does not say that apoE4(1-272) causes mitochondrial fragmentation, a distinct change in mitochondrial structure. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The largest apoE4 fragment, apoE4(1-272), interacts directly with mitochondria to reduce mitochondrial membrane potential.

    “The largest apoE4 fragment, apoE4(1–272), interacts directly with mitochondria to reduce mitochondrial membrane potential”

    From Neuronal Apolipoprotein E4 Expression Results in Proteome-Wide Alterations and Compromises Bioenergetic Capacity by Disrupting Mitochondrial Function (2019) · cites this paper as [10]

    In “ApoE4 Neuropathology Independent of Aβ” (page unavailable), the paper reports that apoE4(1–272) accumulates in mitochondria and that apoE fragments disrupt mitochondrial electropotential in cultured neurons. It does not establish that apoE4(1–272) directly binds mitochondria: the Mitochondrial Binding subsection says how the fragments associate with mitochondria is unknown and offers direct binding as one possibility. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Authors
Mahley, R. W., Weisgraber, K. H., & Huang, Y.
Affiliations
Gladstone Institutes (US)
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2006-04-11
Volume
103
Issue
15
Pages
5644-5651
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2061916198
Cited by
912
References
166
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 44 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 69 · 2012: 62
FWCI
7.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (AG‐022074)
  • National Institute on Aging (P01AG022074)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
Keywords
APOE ε4, Alzheimer's disease, neuropathology, lipid homeostasis, amyloid-beta, oxidative stress, ischemia, neuroinflammation, traumatic brain injury, molten globule, cytoskeleton disruption, protease inhibitors, therapeutic target
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Apolipoproteins E, Humans, Lysosomes, Models, Neurological, Nervous System Diseases, Risk Factors, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Apoptosis, Apolipoprotein E4

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