Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-10-18
pubmed:abstractText
Genetic studies on Alzheimer's disease (AD), a devastating neurodegenerative disorder, have identified the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene as a strong susceptibility marker for AD. The E*4 allele of APOE is a major risk factor for AD regardless of age of onset or family history. However, the observation that the APOE*4 allele is neither necessary nor sufficient for the expression of AD emphasizes the involvement of other environmental or genetic elements that, either in conjunction with APOE*4 or alone, increase an individual's risk of developing AD. Among the candidate genes that may affect the risk of this multifactorial disease is the gene coding for alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT). Like APOE protein, ACT binds to beta-amyloid peptide (A beta P) with high affinity in the filamentous deposits found in the AD brain and serves as a strong stimulatory factor in the polymerization of A beta P into amyloid filaments. In AD brains, ACT expression is enhanced, particularly in areas that develop amyloid plaques, suggesting that ACT may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Here we show that a common polymorphism in the signal peptide of ACT confers a significant risk for AD. Furthermore, the APOE*4 gene dosage effect associated with AD risk is significantly modified by the ACT polymorphism. We have also identified a unique combination of the ACT/AA and APOE 4/4 genotypes as a potential susceptibility marker for AD, as its frequency was 1/17 in the AD group compared to 1/313 in the general population control. Our data show that ACT behaves as a modifier gene that alters the AD risk conventionally associated with the APOE*4 allele.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
1061-4036
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
10
pubmed:geneSymbol
APOE
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
486-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Adult, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Aged, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Aged, 80 and over, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Alleles, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Alzheimer Disease, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Apolipoproteins E, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Base Sequence, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-DNA Primers, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Female, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Gene Frequency, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Genetic Predisposition to Disease, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Genotype, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Male, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Middle Aged, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Molecular Sequence Data, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Polymorphism, Genetic, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-Risk Factors, pubmed-meshheading:7670501-alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin
pubmed:year
1995
pubmed:articleTitle
APOE*4-associated Alzheimer's disease risk is modified by alpha 1-antichymotrypsin polymorphism.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.