Cholesterol Transport and Production in Alzheimer's Disease

Apolipoproteins, lipid carrier molecules, are instrumental in the coordination of the metabolism of lipid following peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) injuries. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in particular is unique among apolipoproteins in that it has a special relevance to nervous tissue. It was shown to coordinate the mobilization and redistribution of cholesterol and phospholipids for the repair, growth, and maintenance of myelin and neuronal membranes, during development or after injury, in the peripheral nervous system. In the brain, ApoE plays a pivotal role in the mobilization and redistribution of cholesterol and phospholipids during membrane remodeling associated with synaptic plasticity [1]. The low concentrations of other key plasma apolipoproteins such asApoA1, C1, and B in the brain further emphasize the critical role of ApoE in this particular tissue [2].