RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN APOLIPOPROTEIN E4 ALLELE AND CSF AMYLOID BETA-PROTEIN IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE AND CONTROLS

Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) allele is strongly associated with late-onse t Alzheimer's disease (AD). ApoE has been suggested to enhance the fib ril formation of amyloid beta-protein. We examined the relationship of apoE phenotype to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of apo E, beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) and soluble amyloid beta- protein (sA beta) of 72 patients with probable AD and 72 non-demented, age-matched controls. Controls with the apoE4 allele had less CSF sA beta, on average, than controls without the apoE4 allele. No such effe ct was seen in AD patients. A positive correlation between CSF apoE an d sA beta concentrations was found in controls and in late-onset AD pa tients. Individuals with apoE4 and low CSF sA beta concentrations may be susceptible to AD.