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Capillary cerebral amyloid angiopathy identifies a distinct APOE epsilon4-associated subtype of sporadic Alzheimer's disease

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Johannes Attems

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Abstract

The deposition of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) in the vessel wall, i.e., cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), is associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Two types of CAA can be differentiated by the presence or absence of capillary Aβ-deposits. In addition, as in Alzheimer’s disease, risk for capillary CAA is associated with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4-allele. Because these morphological and genetic differences between the two types of AD-related CAA exist, the question arises as to whether there exist further differences between AD cases with and without capillary CAA and, if so, whether capillary CAA can be employed to distinguish and define specific subtypes of AD. To address this question, we studied AD and control cases both with and without capillary CAA to identify the following: (1) distinguishing neuropathological features; (2) alterations in perivascular protein expression; and (3) genotype-specific associations. More widespread Aβ-plaque pathology was observed in AD cases with capillary CAA than in those without. Expression of perivascular excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT-2/GLT-1) was reduced in cortical astrocytes of AD cases with capillary CAA in contrast to those lacking capillary Aβ-deposition and controls. Genetically, AD cases with capillary CAA were strongly associated with the APOE ε4 allele compared to those lacking capillary CAA and to controls. To further validate the existence of distinct types of AD we analyzed polymorphisms in additional apoE- and cholesterol-related candidate genes. Our results revealed an association between AD cases without capillary CAA (i.e., AD cases with CAA but lacking capillary CAA and AD cases without CAA) and the T-allele of the α2macroglobulin receptor/low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1) C766T polymorphism as opposed to AD cases with capillary CAA and non-AD controls. Taken together, these results indicate that AD cases with capillary CAA differ significantly from other AD cases both genetically and morphologically, thereby pointing to a specific capillary CAA-related and APOE ε4-associated subtype of AD.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Thal DR, Papassotiropoulos A, Saido TC, Griffin WS, Mrak RE, Kolsch H, Tredici KD, Attems J, Ghebremedhin E

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Acta Neuropathologica

Year: 2010

Volume: 120

Issue: 2

Pages: 169-183

Print publication date: 10/06/2010

ISSN (print): 0001-6322

ISSN (electronic): 1432-0533

Publisher: Springer

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00401-010-0707-9

DOI: 10.1007/s00401-010-0707-9

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