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Discovery of the role of the APOE4 gene in Alzheimer’s disease could encourage research into treatment

A new stem cell-derived human model reveals the role of the most common genetic risk factor, the APOE4 gene, in Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease begin decades before clinical signs and symptoms are detected or observed. It is a progressive disease characterized by a build-up of amyloid proteins that lead to neurodegeneration of the brain. Microglia are a key immune cell type present in the central nervous system and are responsible for removing amyloid proteins from the brain, in addition to important roles in brain development, maintenance, defense, and healing. In Alzheimer’s disease, however, microglia lose their normal functioning, and it is not known how or why this happens.

A major well-known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is the APOE4 gene, which is abundantly present in microglia and is implicated in over half of dementia patients. APOE4 is important for repairing damage to neurons in the brain. In previous mice models, the APOE4 gene in Alzheimer’s disease was shown to encourage the inflammation that causes neurodegeneration of the brain. However, the challenges with creating human microglia models to study have kept the exact role of the APOE4 gene in Alzheimer’s disease a mystery until now.

A new study conducted by researchers from Finland and Australia has reported on the development of a new human model of microglia using stem cells to investigate how the APOE4 gene functions in Alzheimer’s disease. The results of the study are published in Stem Cell Reports.

Their research discovered that APOE4 has a large impact on the proper functioning of microglia by promoting inflammation. Further, APOE4 decreased the ability of brain cells to remove pathogenic or damaged material. These compromised functions altered the human microglia’s basic functions and could potentially disrupt the brain’s ability to protect and maintain a state of healthy balance, which could ultimately lead to the build-up of amyloid proteins and the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

The results of this study suggest a potential new approach for Alzheimer’s treatment research that targets microglia functioning, rather than focusing research efforts solely on preventing the production of amyloid proteins. The researchers’ stem cell-derived human microglia model also presents an exciting new means of studying the molecular functions and mechanisms of the brain in other brain diseases, with the hope of discovering new treatment targets.

 

Written by Maggie Leung, PharmD.

 

References:

Konttinen, H., Cabral-Da-Silva, M. E. C., Ohtonen, S., Wojciechowski, S., Shakirzyanova, A., Caligola, S., … Malm, T. (2019). PSEN1ΔE9, APPswe, and APOE4 Confer Disparate Phenotypes in Human iPSC-Derived Microglia. Stem Cell Reports. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.08.004

Alzheimer’s disease risk gene APOE4 impairs function of brain immune cells. (2019, September 16). Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-09/uoef-adr091619.php

 

 

Maggie Leung PharmD
Maggie Leung PharmD
Maggie is a registered pharmacist and has a PharmD from the University of Toronto. She currently works in the pharmacy informatics field as a clinician applications consultant. In her role, she supports the integration and optimization of technology in healthcare. She enjoys learning about the latest in scientific research and sharing that knowledge through her writing for Medical News Bulletin. Maggie is a big dog lover and enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family.
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