High expression of apolipoprotein e mRNA in the brains with sporadic Alzheimer's disease

In order to study progressive dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, we analyzed the gene expression of apolipoprotein E (apoE). ApoE mRNA level in the brains of patients with AD was determined by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. ApoE genotype and the promoter polymorphisms (-491A/T, Th1/E47cs) were determined by the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The apoE mRNA level was significantly higher in the AD group than the control group (p < 0.05). ApoE mRNA in the AD group with apoE <epsilon>4 was also significantly higher than that in the control group with apoE epsilon4 (p < 0.05). Our result did not indicate the possibility that the promoter polymorphisms modulate the apoE mRNA level, The higher level of apoE mRNA in AD with apoE <epsilon>4 may play an important role in the development of AD. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG. Basel.