Apolipoprotein E is localized to the cytoplasm of human cortical neurons: a light and electron microscopic study
Abstract
To clarify the localization of the glial protein apolipoprotein E (apoE) in human cortical neurons, we employed specific immunoelectron microscopy using a monoclonal antibody to human apoE in surgical specimens of temporal lobe. The specimens were rapidly fixed after excision from five patients undergoing surgery for medically intractable seizures, and postmortem material was also taken from one Alzheimer's disease patient for comparison. Strong apoE immunoreactivity was observed in many astrocytes filling the perinuclear cytoplasm and distal processes completely. Some cortical neurons were also apoE-immunoreactive. ApoE immunoreactivity of neurons was less intense than glial cells and was distributed in a punctate fashion confined to the region of the cell body and proximal dendrites, but not distal processes. These findings suggest that apoE, which is presumably synthesized and stored by astrocytes, may be taken up by cortical neurons in younger adult humans. The presence of apoE in some human neurons may allow apoE to affect neuronal metabolism. Isoform-specific interactions with microtubule-associated proteins, such as tau or MAP2C, could influence the rate of pathology in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
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ApoE is expressed in neurons under stress conditions, in neurons cultured in vitro, and in neurons of selected brain regions in vivo.
“because ApoE is also expressed in neurons under stress conditions (Xu et al., 2006), neurons cultured in vitro (Lin et al., 2018; Xu et al., 1999b), and neurons of selected brain regions in vivo (Han et al., 1994; Xu et al., 1999a)”
From ApoE4 Impairs Neuron-Astrocyte Coupling of Fatty Acid Metabolism (2021) · cites this paper as Han et al., 1994
Human studies have detected neuronal ApoE mRNA and protein.
“human studies also detected neuronal ApoE mRNA (Xu et al., 1999a) and protein (Han et al., 1994).”
From ApoE4 Impairs Neuron-Astrocyte Coupling of Fatty Acid Metabolism (2021) · cites this paper as Han et al., 1994
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- Authors
- Han, S.-H., Einstein, G., Weisgraber, K. H., Strittmatter, W. J., Saunders, A. M., Pericak-Vance, M., Roses, A. D., & Schmechel, D. E.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Duke Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schmechel, Donald E.
- Venue
- Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1994-09
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 535-544
- ISSN
- 0022-3069 (ISSN-L)
- 1554-6578
- OpenAlex
- W2056822801
- Cited by
- 195
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 13.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (NIA AG05128, NIA AG 07922)
- National Center for Research Resources (NIGMS RR-30)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- apolipoprotein E, cortical neurons, astrocytes, temporal lobe, Alzheimer's disease, neuronal metabolism, APOE isoforms, tau protein, MAP2c, microtubule-associated proteins, neurodegeneration, drug-resistant epilepsy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Apolipoproteins E, Cerebral Cortex, Cytoplasm, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neurons, Seizures, Tissue Distribution, Microscopy, Immunoelectron
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