High Expression of Apolipoprotein E mRNA in the Brains with Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease

In order to study progressive dementia in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, we analyzed the gene expression of apolipoprotein E (apoE). ApoE mRNA level in the brains of patients with AD was determined by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. ApoE genotype and the promoter polymorphisms (–491A/T, Th1/E47cs) were determined by the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The apoE mRNA level was significantly higher in the AD group than the control group (p < 0.05). ApoE mRNA in the AD group with apoE &#917;4 was also significantly higher than that in the control group with apoE &#917;4 (p < 0.05). Our result did not indicate the possibility that the promoter polymorphisms modulate the apoE mRNA level. The higher level of apoE mRNA in AD with apoE &#917;4 may play an important role in the development of AD.