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Choi KY, Lee JJ, Gunasekaran TI, Kang S, Lee W, Jeong J, Lim HJ, Zhang X, Zhu C, Won SY, Choi YY, Seo EH, Lee SC, Gim J, Chung JY, Chong A, Byun MS, Seo S, Ko PW, Han JW, McLean C, Farrell J, Lunetta KL, Miyashita A, Hara N, Won S, Choi SM, Ha JM, Jeong JH, Kuwano R, Song MK, An SSA, Lee YM, Park KW, Lee HW, Choi SH, Rhee S, Song WK, Lee JS, Mayeux R, Haines JL, Pericak-Vance MA, Choo ILH, Nho K, Kim KW, Lee DY, Kim S, Kim BC, Kim H, Jun GR, Schellenberg GD, Ikeuchi T, Farrer LA, Lee KH, Neuroimaging Initative AD. APOE Promoter Polymorphism-219T/G is an Effect Modifier of the Influence of APOE ε4 on Alzheimer's Disease Risk in a Multiracial Sample. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8081236. [PMID: 31426376 PMCID: PMC6723529 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8081236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Variants in the APOE gene region may explain ethnic differences in the association of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with ε4. Ethnic differences in allele frequencies for three APOE region SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) were identified and tested for association in 19,398 East Asians (EastA), including Koreans and Japanese, 15,836 European ancestry (EuroA) individuals, and 4985 African Americans, and with brain imaging measures of cortical atrophy in sub-samples of Koreans and EuroAs. Among ε4/ε4 individuals, AD risk increased substantially in a dose-dependent manner with the number of APOE promoter SNP rs405509 T alleles in EastAs (TT: OR (odds ratio) = 27.02, p = 8.80 × 10−94; GT: OR = 15.87, p = 2.62 × 10−9) and EuroAs (TT: OR = 18.13, p = 2.69 × 10−108; GT: OR = 12.63, p = 3.44 × 10−64), and rs405509-T homozygotes had a younger onset and more severe cortical atrophy than those with G-allele. Functional experiments using APOE promoter fragments demonstrated that TT lowered APOE expression in human brain and serum. The modifying effect of rs405509 genotype explained much of the ethnic variability in the AD/ε4 association, and increasing APOE expression might lower AD risk among ε4 homozygotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu Yeong Choi
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Jang Jae Lee
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Tamil Iniyan Gunasekaran
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Sarang Kang
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Life Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Wooje Lee
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Jangho Jeong
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Ho Jae Lim
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Life Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Congcong Zhu
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - So-Yoon Won
- Department of Biochemistry and Signaling Disorder Research Center, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Yu Yong Choi
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Eun Hyun Seo
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Premedical Science, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Seok Cheol Lee
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Jungsoo Gim
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Ji Yeon Chung
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Neurology, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Ari Chong
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Min Soo Byun
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Sujin Seo
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Pan-Woo Ko
- Department of Neurology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu 41944, Korea
| | - Ji-Won Han
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13620, Korea
| | - Catriona McLean
- Department of Pathology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - John Farrell
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Kathryn L Lunetta
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Akinori Miyashita
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Norikazu Hara
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Sungho Won
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Seong-Min Choi
- Department of Neurology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea
| | - Jung-Min Ha
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Jee Hyang Jeong
- Department of Neurology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul 07985, Korea
| | - Ryozo Kuwano
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Min Kyung Song
- Chonnam national university Gwangju 2nd geriatric hospital, Gwangju 61748, Korea
| | - Seong Soo A An
- Department of Bionanotechnology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13120, Korea
| | - Young Min Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan 50612, Korea
| | - Kyung Won Park
- Department of Neurology, Donga University College of Medicine, Busan 49315, Korea
| | - Ho-Won Lee
- Department of Neurology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu 41944, Korea
| | - Seong Hye Choi
- Department of Neurology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Sangmyung Rhee
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Woo Keun Song
- Bio Imaging and Cell Logistics Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Korea
| | - Jung Sup Lee
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Richard Mayeux
- Department of Neurology and Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jonathan L Haines
- Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Margaret A Pericak-Vance
- Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA
| | - I L Han Choo
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Chosun University School of Medicine and Hospital, Gwangju 61453, Korea
| | - Kwangsik Nho
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Ki-Woong Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13620, Korea
| | - Dong Young Lee
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - SangYun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13620, Korea
| | - Byeong C Kim
- Department of Neurology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea
| | - Hoowon Kim
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Neurology, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Gyungah R Jun
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Gerard D Schellenberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4238, USA
| | - Takeshi Ikeuchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Lindsay A Farrer
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Epidemiology, Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Kun Ho Lee
- National Research Center for Dementia, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea.
- Department of Life Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea.
- Department of Neural Development and Disease, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu 41062, Korea.
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Bratosiewicz-Wasik J, Liberski PP, Peplonska B, Styczynska M, Smolen-Dzirba J, Cycon M, Wasik TJ. Regulatory region single nucleotide polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein E gene as risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 2018; 684:86-90. [PMID: 29990559 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a complex aetiology. The ε4 allel of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) is the only confirmed genetic risk factor for the development of AD. In addition, polymorphisms at the promoter region of the APOE gene are assumed to modulate the susceptibility to AD by their different affinity to the transcription factors thus affecting the expression of the gene. In the presented study, we investigated the association between -491 A/T (rs449647), -427C/T, (rs769446) and -219 T/G (rs405509) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of APOE gene and AD risk in the Polish population. We found that only the -491 T allele and -491 A/T genotype acted as protective factors against AD, whereas the -219 T/G heterozygosity increased risk for AD in APOE ε4 carriers but not in APOE ε4 non-carriers. What is more, haplotype frequency estimation showed significant positive for A-T-T-C-C and A-T-G-C-C haplotypes or negative for A-T-T-T-C and T-T-T-T-C haplotypes associations with AD. These results contribute to the evidence that APOE promoter polymorphisms modulate risk for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Bratosiewicz-Wasik
- Department of Biopharmacy, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Pawel P Liberski
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
| | - Beata Peplonska
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Maria Styczynska
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Joanna Smolen-Dzirba
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Mariusz Cycon
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Tomasz J Wasik
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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Xiao H, Gao Y, Liu L, Li Y. Association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and Alzheimer's disease: A meta-analysis. EXCLI JOURNAL 2017; 16:921-938. [PMID: 28900374 PMCID: PMC5579398 DOI: 10.17179/excli2017-289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Several studies have evaluated the role of polymorphisms in the promoter region of APOE gene that encodes apolipoprotein E (APOE) and the susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this literature review and meta-analysis was to investigate the relationship between the APOE promoter region single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs449647, -491A/T; rs769446, -427T/C and rs405509 -219T/G) and the risk of developing AD. Eligible controlled studies published up to November 2016 were retrieved from main online scientific and medical databases. Odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were used to calculate the strength of the relationship. A total of 23 publications (19 for rs449647, ten for rs769446 and ten for rs405509) were retrieved that included 5,703 patients with AD and 5,692 controls. The C allele of the rs769446 variant of the promoter region of APOE gene was significantly associated with an increase of risk of AD (OR = 1.271, 95 % CI = 1.114-1.449, P < 0.0001), while other genetic models of this variant were not related with susceptibility to AD. Rs449647 and rs405509 polymorphisms of APOE gene were not associated with an increase of risk of AD. The findings of this literature review and meta-analysis have shown that rs769446 polymorphism in the promoter region of APOE gene could be a risk factor for AD. Future large-scale studies on the role of polymorphisms in the promoter region of APOE gene in AD are still awaited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyan Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157010, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yifeng Gao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157010, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157010, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yan Li
- Mudanjiang Medical University Affiliated HongQi Hospital, Mudanjiang 157011, Heilongjiang, China, Department of General Surgery
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Chen LH, Fan YH, Kao PYP, Ho DTY, Ha JCT, Chu LW, Song YQ. Genetic Polymorphisms in Estrogen Metabolic Pathway Associated with Risks of Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence from a Southern Chinese Population. J Am Geriatr Soc 2017; 65:332-339. [PMID: 28102888 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate whether genetic variations on the estrogen metabolic pathway would be associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Individuals were recruited at the Memory Clinic, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS Chinese individuals with (n = 426) and without (n = 350) AD. MEASUREMENTS All subjects underwent a standardized cognitive assessment and genotyping of four candidate genes on the estrogen metabolic pathway (estrogen receptor α gene (ESR1), estrogen receptor β gene (ESR2), cytochrome P450 19A1 gene (CYP19A1), cytochrome P450 11A1 gene (CYP11A1)). RESULTS Apart from consistent results showing an association between apolipoprotein (APO)E and AD, strong evidence of disease associations were found for polymorphisms in ESR2 and CYP11A1 based on the entire data set. For ESR2, significant protective effects were found for A alleles of rs4986938 (permuted P = .02) and rs867443 (permuted P = .02). For CYP11A1, significant risk effects were found for G alleles of rs11638442 (permuted P = .03) and rs11632698 (permuted P = .03). Stratifying subjects according to APOE ε4 status, their genetic effects continued to be significant in the APOE ε4-negative subgroup. Associations between CYP11A1 polymorphisms (rs2279357, rs2073475) and risk of AD were detected in women but not men. Further gene-level analysis confirmed the above association between ESR2 and CYP11A1, and pathway-level analysis highlighted the genetic effect of the estrogen metabolic pathway on disease susceptibility (permuted pathway-level P = .03). CONCLUSION Consistent with previous biological findings for sex steroid hormones in the central nervous system, genetic alterations on the estrogen metabolic pathway were revealed in the Chinese population. Confirmation of these present findings in an independent population is warranted to elucidate disease pathogenesis and to explore the potential of hormone therapy in the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Hua Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yan Hui Fan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Centre for Genomic Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Yu Ping Kao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Deborah Tip Yin Ho
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Cheuk Tung Ha
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Leung Wing Chu
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Alzheimer's Disease Research Network, Strategic Research Theme on Aging, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - You-Qiang Song
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Alzheimer's Disease Research Network, Strategic Research Theme on Aging, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Mental and physical activities delay cognitive decline in older persons with dementia. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2014; 22:63-74. [PMID: 23582750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.01.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2011] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of cognitive stimulation (mahjong) and physical exercise (tai chi [TC]) on cognitive performance in persons with dementia. DESIGN Cluster-randomized open-label controlled design. SETTING Nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS One hundred ten residents, most of whom were cholinesterase-inhibitor naive. Inclusion criteria were Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) = 10-24 and suffering from at least very mild dementia (Clinical Dementia Rating ≥ 0.5). Exclusion criteria were being bedbound, audio/visual impairment, regular activity participation before study, or contraindications for physical or group activities. INTERVENTIONS Homes were randomized into three conditions (mahjong, TC, and simple handicrafts [control]). Activities were conducted three times weekly for 12 weeks. MEASUREMENTS Primary outcome was MMSE. Secondary outcomes were immediate/delayed recall, categorical fluency, and digit span. Various biological risk factors, including apolipoprotein E ε4 allele, were included as covariates. Measures were collected at 0 (baseline), 3 (posttreatment), 6, and 9 months. RESULTS Intent-to-treat analyses were performed using mixed-effects regression. Mahjong's effect varied by time for MMSE, delayed recall, and forward digit span. TC had similar effects but not for delayed recall. The typical pattern was that control participants deteriorated while mahjong and TC participants maintained their abilities over time, leading to enlarged treatment effects as time progressed. By 9 months, mahjong and TC differed from control by 4.5 points (95% confidence interval: 2.0-6.9; d = 0.48) and 3.7 points (95% confidence interval: 1.4-6.0; d = 0.40), respectively, on MMSE. No treatment effects were observed for immediate recall and backward digit span. CONCLUSIONS Mahjong and TC can preserve functioning or delay decline in certain cognitive domains, even in those with significant cognitive impairment.
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Polymorphisms of CR1, CLU and PICALM confer susceptibility of Alzheimer's disease in a southern Chinese population. Neurobiol Aging 2011; 33:210.e1-7. [PMID: 22015308 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2011] [Revised: 08/05/2011] [Accepted: 09/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In this case-controlled study, we tested susceptible genetic variants for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in CR1, CLU and PICALM from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in a southern Chinese population. Eight hundred twelve participants consisting of 462 late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) patients and 350 nondemented control subjects were recruited. We found by multivariate logistic regression analysis, that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CR1 (rs6656401 adjusted allelic p = 0.035; adjusted genotypic p = 0.043) and CLU (rs2279590 adjusted allelic p = 0.035; adjusted genotypic p = 0.006; rs11136000 adjusted allelic p = 0.038; adjusted genotypic p = 0.009) were significantly different between LOAD patients and nondemented controls. For PICALM, LOAD association was found only in the APOE ε4 (-) subgroup (rs3851179 adjusted allelic p = 0.028; adjusted genotypic p = 0.013). Our findings showed evidence of CR1, CLU, and PICALM and LOAD susceptibility in an independent southern Chinese population, which provides additional evidence for LOAD association apart from prior genome-wide association studies in Caucasian populations.
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The APOE-491 A/T promoter polymorphism effect on cognitive profile of Alzheimer's patients. Neurosci Lett 2010; 472:199-203. [PMID: 20152880 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2009] [Revised: 01/25/2010] [Accepted: 02/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with a complex aetiology displayed by multiple pathogenic factors. The APOE varepsilon4 allele represents the only established genetic risk factor for sporadic AD; in addition, previous findings on three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on the APOE promoter region, have led to a growing interest in their potential role in AD pathogenesis. The -491 A/T promoter polymorphism has been the one most frequently shown to be associated with AD, as it influences the APOE coding region transcription. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of the -491 A/T polymorphism on the cognitive profile of sporadic AD patients with a disease severity ranging from mild to moderate. Our results showed that patients carrying the -491 AA genotype had poorer cognitive performances than the -491 AT ones, statistically significant in demanding tests of visual attention, especially for the late-onset AD (LOAD). No further differences on cognitive profile were observed when stratifying AA and AT patients according to their APOE genotype. These results suggest a possible functional effect of the -491 A/T promoter on the neuropsychological performances of AD. This role seems to be independent of APOE genotype. In fact the effect of -491 A/T occurs predominantly on attention while the APOE varepsilon4 allele mainly affects memory performances. According to the biological effect exerted on APOE transcription, the -491 A/T polymorphism could be considered a disease modifier more than a risk factor for sporadic AD.
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The complex interaction between APOE promoter and AD: an Italian case-control study. Eur J Hum Genet 2009; 17:938-45. [PMID: 19172988 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2008.263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs449647, rs769446 and rs405509 in the promoter region of the APOE gene have been variously suggested to be epsilon 4-independent risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). A previous Italian study found that the rs449647 was significantly associated with late-onset AD. The aim of this study was to verify whether these APOE promoter SNPs are genetic risk factors for AD and to investigate their interaction with the common APOE polymorphism. A total of 169 clinically diagnosed AD patients and 99 cognitively intact age-matched controls were included in the study. Significant associations with AD independent from sex, age and APOE/epsilon 4 status were found for rs449647 A/A and rs405509 G/G genotypes (positive), and rs449647 A/T and rs405509 T/T genotypes (negative). Haplotype frequency estimation at the APOE locus showed significant associations for the ATG4, ATT4 and ACG3 (positive) and ATT2, ATT3 and TCG3 (negative) haplotypes. Therefore this study confirms the role of the rs449647 A/A genotype as risk factor for AD in Italy and suggests that promoter genotypes and APOE haplotypes might have a complex function in AD-associated genetic risk factors.
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Chu LW, Li Y, Li Z, Tang AYB, Cheung BMY, Leung RYH, Yik PY, Jin DY, Song YQ. A novel intronic polymorphism of ABCA1 gene reveals risk for sporadic Alzheimer's disease in Chinese. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2007; 144B:1007-13. [PMID: 17510949 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Recent genetic studies have shown that variants of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, ABCA1, may be implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this case-control study, a panel of 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (including three amino-acid-coding SNPs used for replication of previous work, and 16 newly selected intronic tag SNPs) was genotyped. Nominally significant single marker P-values were observed in four SNPs, with the highest score of 0.003 for rs2297404 (OR = 1.88, 95%CI 1.23-2.87). In addition, six distinct linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks were detected. LD block1 harbored three nominally significant SNPs (rs2297404, rs2230808, and rs2020927), and showed a different haplotype structure in the affected and unaffected groups. Of the four haplotypes identified, haplotype2 (CAC) was more prevalent in the disease group (0.323 in AD vs. 0.202 in control); while haplotype1 (TGG) was over-represented in the healthy controls (0.595 in control vs. 0.493 in AD), indicating disease risk conferring possibility of haplotype2. After doubling the sample size, the three nominally significant SNPs were still significantly associated with AD. Although coding SNP (rs2230808) was confirmed to have a significant association with AD, prediction of the effects of an amino acid substitution SNP rs2230808 (R1587K) on the three-dimensional structure and function of the ABCA1 protein using PolyPhen program revealed that it is unlikely to be functionally significant. However, the adjacent rs2297404 in the same LD block is potentially functionally significant because of its position in the immediate vicinity of a splicing branch site. Further functional analysis of this polymorphism should be a high priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leung Wing Chu
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Li Y, Chu LW, Chen YQ, Cheung BMY, Leung RYH, Yik PY, Ng KM, Mak W, Jin DY, St George-Hyslop P, Song YQ. Intron 2 (T/C) CYP46 polymorphism is associated with Alzheimer's disease in Chinese patients. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2007; 22:399-404. [PMID: 16960449 DOI: 10.1159/000095723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholesterol metabolism has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and cholesterol-related genes are plausible candidate genes for AD. Genetic association of CYP46A1 polymorphisms with AD had been under extensive investigations; however, observations on intron 2 T-->C (rs754203) generated inconclusive results. OBJECTIVE To analyse an independent data set in a Chinese population to see whether the polymorphic site rs754203 of the CYP46A1 gene is associated with AD. METHODS We analysed 130 sporadic AD patients and 110 healthy controls of the Southern Chinese origin. RESULTS An association between the genotype frequency and AD was suggested in the general population (p = 0.047, odds ratio, OR = 1. 61, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.96-2.70), while the association was most significant in the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon4-negative group (p = 0.004, OR = 2.54, 95% CI =1.31-4.95). Linkage disequilibrium block prediction results also favoured this association. Consistent with previous reports, intron 3 C-->T (rs4900442) polymorphism did not show any evidence of association; in our data set ApoEepsilon4 was confirmed to be a genetic risk factor for AD (p = 0.0016, OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.50-5.11).
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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11
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Morihara T, Teter B, Yang F, Lim GP, Boudinot S, Boudinot FD, Frautschy SA, Cole GM. Ibuprofen suppresses interleukin-1beta induction of pro-amyloidogenic alpha1-antichymotrypsin to ameliorate beta-amyloid (Abeta) pathology in Alzheimer's models. Neuropsychopharmacology 2005; 30:1111-20. [PMID: 15688088 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological and basic research suggests that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should protect against the most common forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ibuprofen reduces amyloid (Abeta) pathology in some transgenic models, but the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Although some reports show select NSAIDs inhibit amyloid production in vitro, the possibility that in vivo suppression of amyloid pathology occurs independent of Abeta production has not been ruled out. We show that ibuprofen reduced Abeta brain levels in rats from exogenously infused Abeta in the absence of altered Abeta production. To determine whether ibuprofen inhibits pro-amyloidogenic factors, APPsw (Tg2576) mice were treated with ibuprofen for 6 months, and expression levels of the Abeta and inflammation-related molecules alpha1 antichymotrypsin (ACT), apoE, BACE1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) (PPARgamma) were measured. Among these, ACT, a factor whose overexpression accelerates amyloid pathology, was reduced by ibuprofen both in vivo and in vitro. IL-1beta, which was reduced in our animals by ibuprofen, induced mouse ACT in vitro. While some NSAIDs may inhibit Abeta42 production, these observations suggest that ibuprofen reduction of Abeta pathology may not be mediated by altered Abeta42 production. We present evidence supporting the hypothesis that ibuprofen-dependent amyloid reduction is mediated by inhibition of an alternate pathway (IL-1beta and its downstream target ACT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Morihara
- Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, GRECC, Sepulveda, CA, USA
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12
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Abstract
Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex and multifactorial disease with the possible involvement of several genes. Apolipoprotein E (APOE), especially the APOE*4 allele, has been established as a strong susceptibility marker that accounts for nearly 30% of the risk in late-onset AD. However, as the APOE*4 allele is neither necessary nor sufficient for the development of AD, it emphasizes the involvement of other genetic and/or environmental factors which, alone or in conjunction with APOE*4, can modify the risk of AD. Recently, genome-wide linkage or linkage disequilibrium studies on late-onset AD have provided informative data for the existence of multiple putative genes for AD on several chromosomes, with the strongest evidence on chromosomes 12, 10, 9 and 6. This paper attempts to review the current progress on the identification of additional genetic loci for late-onset AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ilyas Kamboh
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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13
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Chalmers KA, Culpan D, Kehoe PG, Wilcock GK, Hughes A, Love S. APOE promoter, ACE1 and CYP46 polymorphisms and β-amyloid in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroreport 2004; 15:95-8. [PMID: 15106838 DOI: 10.1097/00001756-200401190-00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Polymorphisms in the APOE promoter, ACE1 and CYP46 genes have all been reported to be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied the relationship of these polymorphisms to the presence of AD in 86 neuropathologically confirmed cases of AD and 58 controls. In addition, we assessed the effects of these polymorphisms on the accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) in the cerebral parenchyma and vasculature. No association was observed between any of the polymorphisms and the presence of AD, the parenchymal Abeta load or the severity of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Here we report that polymorphisms within the APOE promoter, ACE1 and CYP46 gene are not risk factors for AD and are not associated with parenchymal or vascular accumulation of Abeta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy A Chalmers
- University of Bristol, Department of Care of the Elderly, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK.
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14
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Harris FM, Tesseur I, Brecht WJ, Xu Q, Mullendorff K, Chang S, Wyss-Coray T, Mahley RW, Huang Y. Astroglial regulation of apolipoprotein E expression in neuronal cells. Implications for Alzheimer's disease. J Biol Chem 2003; 279:3862-8. [PMID: 14585838 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m309475200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Although apolipoprotein (apo) E is synthesized in the brain primarily by astrocytes, neurons in the central nervous system express apoE, albeit at lower levels than astrocytes, in response to various physiological and pathological conditions, including excitotoxic stress. To investigate how apoE expression is regulated in neurons, we transfected Neuro-2a cells with a 17-kilobase human apoE genomic DNA construct encoding apoE3 or apoE4 along with upstream and downstream regulatory elements. The baseline expression of apoE was low. However, conditioned medium from an astrocytic cell line (C6) or from apoE-null mouse primary astrocytes increased the expression of both isoforms by 3-4-fold at the mRNA level and by 4-10-fold at the protein level. These findings suggest that astrocytes secrete a factor or factors that regulate apoE expression in neuronal cells. The increased expression of apoE was almost completely abolished by incubating neurons with U0126, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), suggesting that the Erk pathway controls astroglial regulation of apoE expression in neuronal cells. Human neuronal precursor NT2/D1 cells expressed apoE constitutively; however, after treatment of these cells with retinoic acid to induce differentiation, apoE expression diminished. Cultured mouse primary cortical and hippocampal neurons also expressed low levels of apoE. Astrocyte-conditioned medium rapidly up-regulated apoE expression in fully differentiated NT2 neurons and in cultured mouse primary cortical and hippocampal neurons. Thus, neuronal expression of apoE is regulated by a diffusible factor or factors released from astrocytes, and this regulation depends on the activity of the Erk kinase pathway in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith M Harris
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, University of California, San Francisco, California 94141-9100, USA
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15
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Yang JD, Feng GY, Zhang J, Cheung J, St Clair D, He L, Ichimura K. Apolipoprotein E -491 promoter polymorphism is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the Chinese population. Neurosci Lett 2003; 350:25-8. [PMID: 12962909 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00815-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Polymorphisms at positions -491, -427 and -219 in the promoter region of the Apolipoprotein E APOE gene have been variously reported to confer an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) independent of the effect of epsilon 2, 3 or 4 alleles in exon 4. In order to assess APOE promoter polymorphisms as independent risk factors in AD we have compared results in 183 definite or probable AD cases with 133 controls. We assayed markers at sites -491, -427, -219, and +113 in APOE gene and a polymorphic Hha1 site in the nearby APOC1 gene. We found that APOE promoter polymorphisms and APOC1 insertion alleles were significantly associated with AD. However, after stratification for epsilon 4 allele, only the A allele at -491 in APOE remained significantly associated with AD. The effects of the other markers depended almost entirely upon linkage disequilibrium with epsilon 4 allele, and only trends remained when cases and controls were stratified for the presence or absence of epsilon 4 allele. This occurred irrespective of whether markers were examined separately or together as haplotypes. So in the Chinese population only APOE -491 promoter alleles confer significant risk of AD independent of epsilon 4 status.
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Affiliation(s)
- J D Yang
- Shanghai Research Centre of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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16
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Parra-Bonilla G, Arboleda G, Yunis J, Solano E, Pardo R, Arango G, Hedmont D, Arboleda H. Haplogroup analysis of the risk associated with APOE promoter polymorphisms (-219T/G, -491A/T and -427T/C) in Colombian Alzheimer's disease patients. Neurosci Lett 2003; 349:159-62. [PMID: 12951193 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00816-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Results analyzing the association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are contradictory. We studied the association of three polymorphisms in the APOE promoter (-219T/G, -491A/T and -427T/C) with AD in a sample of the Colombian population. The polymorphism -491A/T confers increased risk for AD associated with AA genotype independent of APOEe4 allele (odds ratio (OR): 2.64) and more pronounced in men (OR: 6.07). Genotypes TT and TG of -219T/G showed a significant association with AD, but this was lost in an adjusted model. We did not find any association with -427T/C polymorphism. Using a haplogroup analysis of the promoter polymorphisms, we further confirmed their independent contribution as genetic risk factors for AD.
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17
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18
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Laws SM, Hone E, Gandy S, Martins RN. Expanding the association between the APOE gene and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: possible roles for APOE promoter polymorphisms and alterations in APOE transcription. J Neurochem 2003; 84:1215-36. [PMID: 12614323 DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01615.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most commonly diagnosed form of dementia in the elderly. Predominantly this disease is sporadic in nature with only a small percentage of patients exhibiting a familial trait. Early-onset AD may be explained by single gene defects; however, most AD cases are late onset (> 65 years) and, although there is no known definite cause for this form of the disease, there are several known risk factors. Of these, the epsilon4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene (APOE) is a major risk factor. The epsilon4 allele of APOE is one of three (epsilon2 epsilon3 and epsilon4) common alleles generated by cysteine/arginine substitutions at two polymorphic sites. The possession of the epsilon 4 allele is recognized as the most common identifiable genetic risk factor for late-onset AD across most populations. Unlike the pathogenic mutations in the amyloid precursor or those in the presenilins, APOE epsilon4 alleles increase the risk for AD but do not guarantee disease, even when present in homozygosity. In addition to the cysteine/arginine polymorphisms at the epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 locus, polymorphisms within the proximal promoter of the APOE gene may lead to increased apoE levels by altering transcription of the APOE gene. Here we review the genetic and biochemical evidence supporting the hypothesis that regulation of apoE protein levels may contribute to the risk of AD, distinct from the well known polymorphisms at the epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon M Laws
- Sir James McCusker Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit, School of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Western Australia, Hollywood Private Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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19
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Wakutani Y, Kowa H, Kusumi M, Yamagata K, Wada-Isoe K, Adachi Y, Takeshima T, Urakami K, Nakashima K. Genetic analysis of vascular factors in Alzheimer's disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2002; 977:232-8. [PMID: 12480755 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04820.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been extensively examined. Several risk factors for AD are shared with vascular dementia (VaD). We performed genetic case-control studies on polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene, the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene. The most acceptable genetic risk factor for the development of AD is the ApoE epsilon-4 (ApoE epsilon4) allele. ApoE promoter polymorphisms have also been reported to be associated with AD. As expected, the ApoE epsilon4 allele had strong association with AD in our samples. The ApoE epsilon4 allele was also estimated as a risk factor for VaD. An ApoE promoter polymorphism (-291T/G) did not show positive association with AD or any other diseases. Common MTHFR phenotypes are thought to genetically regulate blood homocysteine level, which has been associated with AD. We failed to show independent associations between AD and the common MTHFR polymorphisms (C677T and A1298C). A deletion polymorphism at intron 16 of the ACE gene has also been associated with AD. In our study, we found a significant ethnic difference of the genotype distribution, but failed to replicate the positive association between the I allele and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Wakutani
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishimachi, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
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20
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Alvarez-Arcaya A, Combarros O, Llorca J, Sánchez-Guerra M, Berciano J, Fernández-Luna JL. The --491 TT apolipoprotein E promoter polymorphism is associated with reduced risk for sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 2001; 304:204-8. [PMID: 11343837 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)01790-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Homozygosity for the A allele of the -491 A/T apolipoprotein E (APOE) promoter polymorphism has recently been reported to be associated with sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Two hundred and fifty one patients with AD and an equal number of controls derived from the same region in a Spanish population, were genotyped for -491 A/T and epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 APOE polymorphisms. We did not detect an elevated -491 AA genotype frequency when comparing AD cases to controls. In contrast, persons homozygous for the T allele were at a significantly reduced risk of AD (odds ratio of 0.10, P=0.006). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the -491 TT polymorphism added information on the risk of AD which was independent of that of the APOE epsilon4 allele.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Alvarez-Arcaya
- Service of Neurology, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Spain
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21
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Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most frequent cause of dementia. Family and twin studies have suggested that genetic factors play a role in Alzheimer's disease development. Some Alzheimer's disease cases show an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern and thus allow the discovery of major disease genes. However, most Alzheimer's disease cases are sporadic. These cases are mainly due to the effects of several different genes and of interactions between genetic susceptibility factors and environmental factors. Such interactions are illustrated by the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele, associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease. Other genetic susceptibility factors have been reported but variously confirmed in Alzheimer's disease: apolipoprotein E receptors, alpha2-macroglobulin or angiotensin I converting enzyme genes. Thus, except for a small percentage of Alzheimer's disease cases with a dominant inheritance pattern, the genetic component of the vast majority of cases is underlain by complex interactions of genetic susceptibility factors and environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Richard
- INSERM 508, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 1 rue Calmette, 59019 Cedex, Lille, France
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22
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Fullerton SM, Clark AG, Weiss KM, Nickerson DA, Taylor SL, Stengârd JH, Salomaa V, Vartiainen E, Perola M, Boerwinkle E, Sing CF. Apolipoprotein E variation at the sequence haplotype level: implications for the origin and maintenance of a major human polymorphism. Am J Hum Genet 2000; 67:881-900. [PMID: 10986041 PMCID: PMC1287893 DOI: 10.1086/303070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 250] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2000] [Accepted: 08/10/2000] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Three common protein isoforms of apolipoprotein E (apoE), encoded by the epsilon2, epsilon3, and epsilon4 alleles of the APOE gene, differ in their association with cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease risk. To gain a better understanding of the genetic variation underlying this important polymorphism, we identified sequence haplotype variation in 5.5 kb of genomic DNA encompassing the whole of the APOE locus and adjoining flanking regions in 96 individuals from four populations: blacks from Jackson, MS (n=48 chromosomes), Mayans from Campeche, Mexico (n=48), Finns from North Karelia, Finland (n=48), and non-Hispanic whites from Rochester, MN (n=48). In the region sequenced, 23 sites varied (21 single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, 1 diallelic indel, and 1 multiallelic indel). The 22 diallelic sites defined 31 distinct haplotypes in the sample. The estimate of nucleotide diversity (site-specific heterozygosity) for the locus was 0.0005+/-0.0003. Sequence analysis of the chimpanzee APOE gene showed that it was most closely related to human epsilon4-type haplotypes, differing from the human consensus sequence at 67 synonymous (54 substitutions and 13 indels) and 9 nonsynonymous fixed positions. The evolutionary history of allelic divergence within humans was inferred from the pattern of haplotype relationships. This analysis suggests that haplotypes defining the epsilon3 and epsilon2 alleles are derived from the ancestral epsilon4s and that the epsilon3 group of haplotypes have increased in frequency, relative to epsilon4s, in the past 200,000 years. Substantial heterogeneity exists within all three classes of sequence haplotypes, and there are important interpopulation differences in the sequence variation underlying the protein isoforms that may be relevant to interpreting conflicting reports of phenotypic associations with variation in the common protein isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Fullerton
- Institute of Molecular Evolutionary Genetics, Department of Biology, and Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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23
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Abstract
Alzheimer's disease, the most frequent form of senile dementia, presents in the vast majority of cases as a multifactorial trait, where a series of genetic and environmental risk factors converge. The increasing body of data, both epidemiological and functional, is strengthening the evidence that apolipoprotein E (APOE, gene; apoE, protein) is a true susceptibility factor for the onset of the common form of Alzheimer's disease. The E4 isoform of apoE remains to date as the main genetic risk factor for the disease, although the mechanisms responsible for this association are not well understood. It is also clear that apoE4 is not necessary or sufficient to cause the disease, indicating that other risk and protecting factors exist. ApoE is upregulated in response to nervous system injury, suggesting that it could have a neuroprotective role; on the other hand, there is evidence indicating that apoE is neurotoxic when present at high levels. Thus, apoE levels seem to be relevant for the functionality of the protein. The APOE proximal promoter hosts numerous regulatory elements, raising the possibility that polymorphisms in this region could produce variation in apoE levels by altering APOE transcriptional activity, which could finally result in AD susceptibility. We will review here the current evidence on the relationship between APOE proximal promoter polymorphisms, APOE gene transcriptional activity and apoE protein levels, and risk for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Bullido
- Departamento de Biología Molecular and Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (C.S.I.C.-U.A.M.), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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24
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Tandon A, Rogaeva E, Mullan M, St George-Hyslop PH. Molecular genetics of Alzheimer's disease: the role of beta-amyloid and the presenilins. Curr Opin Neurol 2000; 13:377-84. [PMID: 10970053 DOI: 10.1097/00019052-200008000-00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder of aging, accounting for an estimated two-thirds of all cases of senile dementia. Epidemiologic studies have failed to resolve any single cause of Alzheimer's disease and suggest a complex etiology, with environmental and genetic factors influencing the pathogenesis. Although the majority of cases are sporadic, a small number display familial clustering. Genetic analyses of these pedigrees have identified four genes that are involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tandon
- Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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25
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Abstract
Application of genetic paradigms to Alzheimer's disease (AD) has led to confirmation that genetic factors play a role in this disease. Additionally, researchers now understand that AD is genetically heterogeneous and that some genetic isoforms appear to have similar or related biochemical consequences. Genetic epidemiologic studies indicate that first-degree relatives of AD probands have an age-dependent risk for AD approximately equal to 38% by age 90 years (range 10% to 50%). This incidence strongly suggests that transmission may be more complicated than a simple autosomal dominant trait. Nevertheless, a small proportion of AD cases with unequivocal autosomal dominant transmission have been identified. Studies of these autosomal dominant familial AD (FAD) pedigrees have thus far identified four distinct FAD genes. The beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) gene (on chromosome 21), the presenilin 1 (PS1) gene (on chromosome 14), and the presenilin 2 (PS2) gene (on chromosome 1) gene are all associated with early-onset AD. Missense mutations in these genes cause abnormal beta APP processing with resultant overproduction of A beta 42 peptides. In addition, the epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is associated with a increased risk for late-onset AD. Although attempts to develop symptomatic treatments based on neurotransmitter replacement continue, some laboratories are attempting to design treatments that will modulate production or disposition of A beta peptides.
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26
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Thome J, Gewirtz JC, Sakai N, Zachariou V, Retz-Junginger P, Retz W, Duman RS, Rösler M. Polymorphisms of the human apolipoprotein E promoter and bleomycin hydrolase gene: risk factors for Alzheimer's dementia? Neurosci Lett 1999; 274:37-40. [PMID: 10530514 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00662-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In addition to the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) tri-allele polymorphism, genetic variants of the apolipoprotein E promoter (-491A/T) and the bleomycin hydrolase (BH-PEN) gene have also been proposed as genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Since reports about the relevance of these polymorphisms for the pathogenesis of AD have been contradictory, we performed an association study with some modifications. First, the control group in this study was made up of non-demented psychiatric inpatients, rather than healthy subjects. This procedure allows the specificity of the relationship between a given genotype and AD (as opposed to other psychiatric disorders) to be determined. Second, as an alternative to preexisting relatively time consuming techniques, BH-PEN polymorphism was determined using a simplified method based on PCR genotyping. We found a significant linkage disequilibrium between the -491A/T and ApoE polymorphisms. However, no direct association was observed between the -491A/T or BH-PEN polymorphism and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Thome
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06508, USA.
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27
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Rebeck GW, Cheung BS, Growdon WB, Deng A, Akuthota P, Locascio J, Greenberg SM, Hyman BT. Lack of independent associations of apolipoprotein E promoter and intron 1 polymorphisms with Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 1999; 272:155-8. [PMID: 10505604 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00602-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated genetic associations between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and polymorphisms in the promoter/enhancer regions of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene. These studies raise the possibility that APOE transcription control may be involved in altered risks for AD. We evaluated polymorphic sites in the intron-1 enhancer element (IE-1G/C) and in the APOE promoter (-219G/T). For the IE-1 polymorphism, we analyzed 433 individuals (183 AD and 250 controls), and found a strong linkage between the IE-1G allele and APOE-epsilon4. When we controlled for this linkage using log-linear model analysis, we found no independent association between the IE-1 polymorphism and AD. For the -219 polymorphism, we analyzed 475 individuals (168 AD cases, 234 controls, and 73 cases of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)). We found strong linkages between the -219G allele and APOE-epsilon2 and between the -219 T allele and APOE-epsilon4. Controlling for these linkages, we found no independent association between the -219 polymorphism and AD or CAA. Thus, our studies do not support independent associations between AD and either the IE-1 or the -219 polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- G W Rebeck
- Alzheimer Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown 02129, USA.
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28
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Growdon WB, Cheung BS, Hyman BT, Rebeck GW. Lack of allelic imbalance in APOE epsilon3/4 brain mRNA expression in Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 1999; 272:83-6. [PMID: 10507547 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00557-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Although the APOE epsilon4 allele is a strong risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), it is not deterministic, as many APOE epsilon3/4 individuals do not develop AD. It has been hypothesized that this incomplete penetrance is due, in part, to an imbalance of allele expression in heterozygous individuals. In this regard, Lambert et al. (1998) reported that AD individuals have a higher APOE epsilon4/total APOE ratio than non-demented control subjects. We tested this hypothesis using radioactive RT-PCR to quantitate APOE epsilon3 and epsilon4 allele expression levels in AD and non-AD brain samples from APOE epsilon3/4 individuals. Quantitative analyses of amplified products within the linear range of amplification (18-20 cycles) revealed no difference from the expected 1:1 ratio in genomic DNA and in cDNA from AD and control brains. Using high PCR cycle numbers (approximately 30), we observed an artificial elevation of the APOE epsilon3/total APOE ratio in both DNA and cDNA samples, possibly due to DNA heteroduplex formation. Our results do not support the hypothesis that allelic imbalance contributes to the risk of developing AD among APOE epsilon3/4 heterozygote individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- W B Growdon
- Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown 02129, USA
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Chen L, Baum L, Ng HK, Chan LY, Sastre I, Artíga MJ, Valdivieso F, Bullido MJ, Chiu HF, Pang CP. Apolipoprotein E promoter and alpha2-macroglobulin polymorphisms are not genetically associated with Chinese late onset Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 1999; 269:173-7. [PMID: 10454160 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00421-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated two newly reported polymorphisms in association with late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Chinese. They were a -491 A/T polymorphism in the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) promoter region and a five base pair deletion at exon 18 of alpha2-Macroglobin (A2M). There were 196 AD and 180 normal controls (N), which were age- and sex-matched. APOE epsilon4 alleles were significantly increased in AD vs. N (chi2 = 33.3, P < 0.000001). However, neither the -491 A/T (chi2 = 1.13, P = 0.29) nor A2M (chi2 = 0.18, P = 0.67) polymorphism was associated with AD risk, suggesting that these polymorphisms do not represent risk factors for AD in the Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Chen
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin
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Ahmed AR, MacGowan SH, Culpan D, Jones RW, Wilcock GK. The -491A/T polymorphism of the Apolipoprotein E gene is associated with the ApoEepsilon4 allele and Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 1999; 263:217-9. [PMID: 10213175 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00126-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Several studies have attempted to confirm the association between the recently reported polymorphism located at position -491 in the transcriptional regulatory region of the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Results have been inconclusive, possibly due to the use of clinically diagnosed subjects and controls only. In this retrospective case-control study of 149 (96 AD and 53 controls) brain samples we show that homozygosity for the -491A variant is associated with an increased risk of development of AD. The genotype is also strongly associated with the presence of at least one epsilon4 allele (an established risk factor for AD) in women but not in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Ahmed
- The Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly, St Martin's Hospital, Bath, UK
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31
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Abstract
Following a brief introduction and discussion of the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease, the main emphasis of this review article will be the genetic factors that have been implicated in this disease. These can be divided into two main categories. First, the three genes in which mutations are known to result in early onset autosomal dominant familial Alzheimer's disease will be discussed. These are well characterised but account for only a small proportion of Alzheimer's disease cases. Late onset, sporadic Alzheimer's disease is more common and evidence suggests that there is a genetic component to this type of disease. A number of genetic risk factors have been implicated that might increase the risk of developing sporadic disease. Many of these are controversial and studies have shown conflicting results, which are discussed in this section. Finally, a brief discussion of some of the mechanisms suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is included. It is hoped that this will show why particular genes have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease and how they might be able to influence the development of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Tilley
- Division of Clinical Chemistry, School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, UK
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