ASSOCIATION OF APOLIPOPROTEIN-E GENOTYPE WITH BRAIN LEVELS OF APOLIPOPROTEIN-E AND APOLIPOPROTEIN J(CLUSTERIN) IN ALZHEIMER-DISEASE

This study examines the relationship between the levels of apolipoprot ein E (apoE) and apolipoprotein J (apoJ, also designated as clusterin) as a function of apoE genotype in the hippocampus and cortex of Alzhe imer disease (AD) subjects. These two lipophilic proteins which are in volved in the maintenance of lipid homeostasis are both synthesized in the brain by astrocytes. Results indicate a reduction of apoE levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex that is proportional to the apoE 4 allele dose. Conversely, apoJ (clusterin) levels were found to incre ase proportionately to the number of apoE4 allele dose. These results suggest a compensatory induction of apoJ (clusterin) in the brain of a poE4 AD subjects showing low brain levels of apoE.