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APOE (Apolipoprotein E)

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Summary of APOE

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) transports fat-soluble vitamins and cholesterol into the lymph system and then into the blood. APOE has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart disease, and reduce inflammation [R][R][R].

There are at least three slightly different versions (alleles) of the APOE gene. The major alleles are called e2, e3, and e4. The most common allele is e3, which is found in more than half of the general population.

In order to figure out your APOE variants, you need to look at the following SNPs together (rs429358 and rs 7412):

  • rs429358(C;C) + rs7412 (C;C) = APOE4/APOE4 (Bad) = 12x for late-onset Alzheimer's and 61x for early-onset disease [R].

  • rs429358(C;T) + rs7412 (C;C) = APOE3/APOE4 (Bad) = >3x increased risk for Alzheimer's; 1.4x increased risk for heart disease  [R].

  • rs429358(T;T) + rs7412 (C;C) = APOE3/APOE3 (Good) -- most common

  • rs429358(T;T) + rs7412 (C;T) = APOE2/APOE3 (Good)

  • rs429358(T;T) + rs7412 (T;T) = APOE2/APOE2 (Good) -- lowest risk

Certain APOE varieties may lead to increased risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, inflammation, depression and cancer [R]. In particular, the APOE4 variety cannot accomplish the beneficial functions as well that the other varieties can do.  People with two APOE4 alleles are 20X more likely to get Alzheimer's.

  • Low APOE results in higher cholesterol.
  • Low APOE causes increased oxidative stress, inflammation.
  • Low APOE is most notably a causal factor in Alzheimer’s.

APOE is anti-inflammatory.  It suppresses T cell proliferation, macrophage functioning regulation, natural killer T cell activation and overall decreases inflammation and oxidation.

APOE helps break down the amyloid beta that is believed to contribute to Alzheimer's.

  • Cholesterol levels: APOE participates in cholesterol redistribution from cells with excess cholesterol to those requiring it, thus reducing cholesterol levels [R].
  • Prevents Atherosclerosis (cardiovascular disease): In a study done on mice that were missing the APOE gene, it was showed that people with APOE4 had a higher risk of getting atherosclerosis, a disease where plaque is built up in the arteries [R].
  • Inflammation: APOE reduces the risk to develop age-related macular degeneration and inflammation [R].
  • Sleep disturbances (snoring, sleep apnea): APOE decreased problems in snoring and sleep apnea (in adults without dementia) [R].
  • Alzheimer’s: APOE2 can serve a protective role in fighting against Alzheimer’s [R], while th APOE4 variant is a large risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease [R].
  • Weight Management: APOE3 more efficiently harvests dietary energy and deposits fat in fat tissue compared to APOE4 [R].
  • Fatigue: APOE4 gene is associated with fatigue in people who had minor brain injuries [R].
  • Depression: High APOE4 levels lead to depression in people with Alzheimer’s Disease [R].
  • Migraines: APOE4 was positively linked to headaches [R].
  • Brain Hemorrhages: APOE interacts with lipid levels in the brain to play a role in causing brain hemorrhages [R].
  • Cancer (renal cell carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma):  Interactions between APOE and other genes are related to higher cancer susceptibility [R].

APOE gene variants have also been studied as a potential risk factor for age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that is a leading cause of vision loss among older people worldwide. Some studies have suggested that having at least one copy of the APOE e4 allele may help protect against this disease or delay the onset of vision loss, while having at least one copy of the APOE e2 allele may increase the risk of this disease or cause symptoms to appear earlier.

APOE is synthesized principally in the liver, and can bind to the LDL receptor.

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Protein names

Recommended name:

Apolipoprotein E

Alternative name(s):

Apo-E

APOE SNPs

    To see your genotype, you should be logged in and have a file with your genotype uploaded.

  1. RS1065853 (APOE) ??
  2. RS405509 (APOE) ??
  3. RS429358 (APOE) ??
  4. RS438811 (APOE) ??
  5. RS439401 (APOE) ??
  6. RS440446 (APOE) ??
  7. RS445925 (APOE) ??
  8. RS449647 (APOE) ??
  9. RS7412 (APOE) ??
  10. RS769449 (APOE) ??
  11. RS769452 (APOE) ??
  12. RS769455 (APOE) ??

Top Gene-Substance Interactions

APOE Interacts with These Diseases

Disease Score

Fixes

If you have an APOE variety that doesn't work as well (APOE4), you can do a number of things to increase its production or function.  You should be promoting the following:

  • Education: More years of education meant higher levels of APOE [R].
  • Mental Exercises: Daily mental exercises (puzzles, reading, etc.) help stabilize APOE levels and prevent the decline of brain function [R].
  • Diets High in Polyunsaturated Fats and Low in Carbohydrates:  Such as the Mediterannian diet or Ketogenic diet  [R].
  • Lowering Cholesterol [R]- lowering serum cholesterol levels may reduce a person’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease, even if they have two ApoE4 alleles, thus reducing the risk from nine or ten times the odds of getting Alzheimer's down to just two times the odds.
  • Cold Showers
  • Fish oil/DHA
  • Vitamin A/Retinol
  • Curcumin
  • Butyrate

APOE is decreased by inflammation but increased by TGF-beta.

Substances That Increase APOE

Substances Interaction Organism Category

Substances That Decrease APOE

Substances Interaction Organism Category

Conditions with Increased Gene Activity

Condition Change (log2fold) Comparison Species Experimental variables Experiment name

Conditions with Decreased Gene Activity

Condition Change (log2fold) Comparison Species Experimental variables Experiment name

Technical

The following transcription factors affect gene expression:

  • PPAR-gamma1
  • PPAR-gamma2
  • PPAR-alpha
  • AP-1
  • c-Jun
  • Sp1
  • C/EBPalpha
  • NF-kappaB
  • NF-kappaB1
  • ER-alpha

Tissue specificity:

Occurs in all lipoprotein fractions in plasma. It constitutes 10-20% of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and 1-2% of high density lipoproteins (HDL). APOE is produced in most organs. Significant quantities are produced in liver, brain, spleen, lung, adrenal, ovary, kidney and muscle.

Gene Pathways:

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Disease

Molecular Function:

  • Beta-Amyloid Binding
  • Lipid Transporter Activity
  • Phospholipid Binding
  • Heparin Binding
  • Lipid Binding
  • Cholesterol Binding
  • Antioxidant Activity
  • Cholesterol Transporter Activity
  • Identical Protein Binding
  • Protein Homodimerization Activity
  • Metal Chelating Activity
  • Tau Protein Binding
  • Low-Density Lipoprotein Particle Receptor Binding
  • Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase Activator Activity
  • Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Particle Receptor Binding
  • Lipoprotein Particle Binding

Biological Processes:

  • Response To Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Retinoid Metabolic Process
  • Negative Regulation Of Endothelial Cell Proliferation
  • Response To Dietary Excess
  • Triglyceride Metabolic Process
  • Cholesterol Catabolic Process
  • Cellular Calcium Ion Homeostasis
  • Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis
  • Cytoskeleton Organization
  • G-Protein Coupled Receptor Signaling Pathway
  • Nitric Oxide Mediated Signal Transduction
  • Synaptic Transmission, Cholinergic
  • Cholesterol Metabolic Process
  • Regulation Of Gene Expression
  • Negative Regulation Of Platelet Activation
  • Positive Regulation Of Cholesterol Esterification
  • Positive Regulation Of Cholesterol Efflux
  • Lipid Transport Involved In Lipid Storage
  • Long-Chain Fatty Acid Transport
  • Protein Import
  • Virion Assembly
  • Triglyceride Catabolic Process
  • Cgmp-Mediated Signaling
  • Negative Regulation Of Blood Coagulation
  • Regulation Of Axon Extension
  • Positive Regulation Of Cgmp Biosynthetic Process
  • Neuron Projection Regeneration
  • Regulation Of Cdc42 Protein Signal Transduction
  • Positive Regulation Of Low-Density Lipoprotein Particle Receptor Catabolic Process
  • Cholesterol Efflux
  • Phospholipid Efflux
  • Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Particle Remodeling
  • Low-Density Lipoprotein Particle Remodeling
  • High-Density Lipoprotein Particle Remodeling
  • High-Density Lipoprotein Particle Assembly
  • Chylomicron Remnant Clearance
  • High-Density Lipoprotein Particle Clearance
  • Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Particle Clearance
  • Lipoprotein Metabolic Process
  • Lipoprotein Biosynthetic Process
  • Lipoprotein Catabolic Process
  • Vasodilation
  • Cholesterol Homeostasis
  • Negative Regulation Of Map Kinase Activity
  • Negative Regulation Of Neuron Apoptotic Process
  • Negative Regulation Of Blood Vessel Endothelial Cell Migration
  • Reverse Cholesterol Transport
  • Positive Regulation By Host Of Viral Process
  • Negative Regulation Of Cholesterol Biosynthetic Process
  • Positive Regulation Of Lipid Biosynthetic Process
  • Intracellular Transport
  • Regulation Of Neuronal Synaptic Plasticity
  • Artery Morphogenesis
  • Negative Regulation Of Inflammatory Response
  • Positive Regulation Of Nitric-Oxide Synthase Activity
  • Positive Regulation Of Membrane Protein Ectodomain Proteolysis
  • Negative Regulation Of Lipid Biosynthetic Process
  • Maintenance Of Location In Cell
  • Fatty Acid Homeostasis
  • Positive Regulation Of Dendritic Spine Development
  • Negative Regulation Of Dendritic Spine Development
  • Triglyceride Homeostasis
  • Negative Regulation Of Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
  • Negative Regulation Of Cholesterol Efflux
  • Ampa Glutamate Receptor Clustering
  • Nmda Glutamate Receptor Clustering
  • Regulation Of Beta-Amyloid Clearance
  • Regulation Of Neuron Death
  • Negative Regulation Of Neuron Death
  • Positive Regulation Of Neuron Death
  • Negative Regulation Of Postsynaptic Membrane Organization
  • Positive Regulation Of Postsynaptic Membrane Organization
  • Negative Regulation Of Presynaptic Membrane Organization
  • Positive Regulation Of Presynaptic Membrane Organization
  • Positive Regulation Of Beta-Amyloid Formation
  • Negative Regulation Of Beta-Amyloid Formation
  • Regulation Of Tau-Protein Kinase Activity
  • Negative Regulation Of Dendritic Spine Maintenance
  • Positive Regulation Of Dendritic Spine Maintenance
  • Positive Regulation Of Phospholipid Efflux
  • Positive Regulation Of Neurofibrillary Tangle Assembly
  • Negative Regulation Of Phospholipid Efflux
  • Negative Regulation Of Lipid Transport Across Blood Brain Barrier
  • Positive Regulation Of Lipid Transport Across Blood Brain Barrier

Drug Bank:

  • Human Serum Albumin
  • Serum Albumin Iodonated
*synonyms

Synonyms/Aliases/Alternative Names of the Gene:

hypothetical protein| ad2| APO-E| ApoE4| APOEA| apolipoprotein E3| apolipoprotein E4| apoprotein| CB1_000247015| D623_10006037| GW7_18161| H920_04943| LDLCQ5| lpg| PAL_GLEAN10004004| PANDA_013610| proapolipoprotein E (AA -18 to 299)| TREES_T100011509| apoe

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