Expression of human apolipoprotein E reduces amyloid-β deposition in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E (apo E) is associated with an increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). This may be due to interactions between apo E and the amyloid-β protein (Aβ). To assess the effects of human apo E isoforms on Aβ deposition in vivo, we bred apo E3 and apo E4 hemizygous (+/–) transgenic mice expressing apo E by astrocytes to mice homozygous (+/+) for a mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP^V717F) transgene that develop age-dependent AD neuropathology. All mice were on a mouse apo E null (–/–) background. By nine months of age, APP^V717F+/–, apo E^–/– mice had developed Aβ deposition, and, as reported previously, the quantity of Aβ deposits was significantly less than that seen in APP^V717F+/– mice expressing mouse apo E. In contrast to effects of mouse apo E, similar levels of human apo E3 and apo E4 markedly suppressed early Aβ deposition at nine months of age in APP^V717F+/– transgenic mice, even when compared with mice lacking apo E. These findings suggest that human apo E isoforms decrease Aβ aggregation or increase Aβ clearance relative to an environment in which mouse apo E or no apo E is present. The results may have important implications for understanding mechanisms underlying the link between apo E and AD.