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Co-aggregation with apolipoprotein E modulates the function of amyloid-β in Alzheimer's disease

  • Zengjie Xia
  • , Emily E Prescott
  • , Agnieszka Urbanek
  • , Hollie E Wareing
  • , Marianne C King
  • , Anna Olerinyova
  • , Helen Dakin
  • , Tom Leah
  • , Katy A Barnes
  • , Martyna M Matuszyk
  • , Eleni Dimou
  • , Eric Hidari
  • , Yu P Zhang
  • , Jeff Y L Lam
  • , John S H Danial
  • , Michael R Strickland
  • , Hong Jiang
  • , Peter Thornton
  • , Damian C Crowther
  • , Sohvi Ohtonen
  • Mireia Gómez-Budia, Simon M Bell, Laura Ferraiuolo, Heather Mortiboys, Adrian Higginbottom, Stephen B Wharton, David M Holtzman, Tarja Malm, Rohan T Ranasinghe*, David Klenerman*, Suman De*
*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Which isoforms of apolipoprotein E (apoE) we inherit determine our risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD), but the mechanism underlying this link is poorly understood. In particular, the relevance of direct interactions between apoE and amyloid-β (Aβ) remains controversial. Here, single-molecule imaging shows that all isoforms of apoE associate with Aβ in the early stages of aggregation and then fall away as fibrillation happens. ApoE-Aβ co-aggregates account for ~50% of the mass of diffusible Aβ aggregates detected in the frontal cortices of homozygotes with the higher-risk APOE4 gene. We show how dynamic interactions between apoE and Aβ tune disease-related functions of Aβ aggregates throughout the course of aggregation. Our results connect inherited APOE genotype with the risk of developing AD by demonstrating how, in an isoform- and lipidation-specific way, apoE modulates the aggregation, clearance and toxicity of Aβ. Selectively removing non-lipidated apoE4-Aβ co-aggregates enhances clearance of toxic Aβ by glial cells, and reduces secretion of inflammatory markers and membrane damage, demonstrating a clear path to AD therapeutics.
Original languageEnglish
Article number4695
Number of pages18
JournalNature Communications
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2024

Keywords

  • Neuroglia
  • Animals
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Protein isoforms
  • Female
  • Male
  • Apolipoprotein E4
  • Amyloid beta-peptides
  • Protein aggregates
  • Protein aggregation, Pathological

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