Very low density lipoprotein receptor in Alzheimer disease

The apolipoprotein (APO) E4 isoform is associated with an accelerated rate of Alzheimer disease (AD) expression in sporadic as well as late-onset fami lial forms of the disease but the precise mechanism is unknown. In an attem pt to approach the possible mechanisms involved, APOE receptors have been s tudied. They all belong to the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor famil y and share the same structural motifs. Some of them are preferentially exp ressed in the brain such as the LDL receptor related protein, the apolipopr otein E receptor 2, and the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor. T hese receptors have been suspected to be involved in Alzheimer disease at v arious levels. Among them, the VLDL receptor was extensively explored. Alth ough genetic studies conducted on a polymorphism in the promoter of the VLD L receptor in Japanese and Caucasian populations gave divergent results, th is does not exclude a possible involvement of the VLDL receptor in AD. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.