ApoE Receptors in Alzheimer's and CNS Function
| dc.contributor.advisor | Powell, Craig M. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Herz, Joachim | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Eisch, Amelia J. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Huber, Kimberly M. | en |
| dc.creator | Lane-Donovan, Courtney | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-06-03T19:54:44Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-06-03T19:54:44Z | |
| dc.date.created | 2017-05 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017-03-24 | |
| dc.date.submitted | May 2017 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2019-06-03T19:54:44Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a currently incurable neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia over age 65. The predominant genetic risk factor for AD is the ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E (ApoE4). Other genes related to lipid metabolism and lipoprotein receptor signaling have also been identified as risk modifiers for AD. Despite nearly two decades of research, the mechanisms by which lipid transport proteins cause central nervous system (CNS) disease are not completely understood. Here, the ApoE receptor family and its ligands and their roles in CNS function and neurological disease were explored. It has been previously shown that ApoE4 renders neurons resistant to the neuromodulator and ApoE receptor ligand Reelin, which enhances synaptic plasticity and protects against amyloid β (Aβ) oligomer-induced synaptic toxicity in vitro. Here, mice with reduced Reelin expression were more sensitive to amyloid-induced synaptic suppression, and had memory and learning disabilities at very low amyloid levels. However, this effect of Reelin loss did not extend to other forms a neurological insult, since the Reelin conditional knockout mice were not more susceptible to transient middle cerebral artery occlusions. Together, these findings highlight the specific physiological importance of Reelin for protecting the brain against Aβ-induced synaptic dysfunction and memory impairment. One of the continuing debates in the AD field is whether ApoE is required for synaptic function. ApoE knockout mice have synaptic loss; however, they also have severely increased plasma lipids, which could independently contribute to CNS dysfunction. A novel mouse with normal plasma ApoE, but severely depleted brain ApoE, shares a similar synaptic phenotype as ApoE knockout mice, suggesting central ApoE is required for brain function. To determine if diet can modulate ApoE levels, wildtype, ApoE3, and ApoE4 targeted replacement mice were fed a chow, high-fat, or ketogenic (high-fat, very-low-carb) diet. Surprisingly, high-fat diet reduced hippocampal ApoE levels in ApoE3 TR mice, indicating an intersection of genetic (ApoE isoform) and lifestyle (diet) risk factors on AD pathogenesis. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of ApoE receptors and their ligands in AD biology, and future studies will have to determine how to target these mechanisms to treat AD and improve patient outcomes. | en |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
| dc.identifier.oclc | 1103324528 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/2152.5/6600 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.subject | Alzheimer Disease | en |
| dc.subject | Apolipoproteins E | en |
| dc.subject | Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal | en |
| dc.subject | Extracellular Matrix Proteins | en |
| dc.subject | Nerve Tissue Proteins | en |
| dc.subject | Serine Endopeptidases | en |
| dc.title | ApoE Receptors in Alzheimer's and CNS Function | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |
| dc.type.material | text | en |
| thesis.degree.department | Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Neuroscience | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | UT Southwestern Medical Center | en |
| thesis.degree.level | Doctoral | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Philosophy | en |