Apolipoprotein E: a pathological chaperone protein in patients with cerebral and systemic amyloid.

Abstract

Many biochemically diverse proteins can give rise to amyloid fibrils; however, they are all accompanied by P component and glucosaminoglycans. With antibodies specific to apolipoprotein E (apo E) we used immunohistochemical techniques to test for the presence of this protein in both cerebral and systemic amyloid. We found apo E immunoreactivity in all tested types of cerebral and systemic amyloid. In amyloid deposits apo E P, component and glucosaminoglycans may be acting as 'pathological molecular chaperones'. The latter we define as a group of unrelated proteins that induce beta-pleated conformation in amyloidogenic polypeptides.

• Authors: T Wisniewski, B Frangione
• Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett) Vol. 135 Issue 2 Pg. 235-8 (Feb 03 1992) ISSN: 0304-3940 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 1625800 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Amyloid
• Apolipoproteins E
• Glycosaminoglycans
• Serum Amyloid P-Component

Topics

• Amyloid (metabolism)
• Apolipoproteins E (cerebrospinal fluid, immunology, metabolism)
• Brain Chemistry (physiology)
• Glycosaminoglycans (metabolism)
• Humans
• Microscopy, Immunoelectron
• Nervous System Diseases (metabolism, pathology)
• Paraffin Embedding
• Serum Amyloid P-Component (metabolism)