Association of plasma and cortical amyloid beta is modulated by APOE ε4 status

Alzheimers Dement. 2014 Jan;10(1):e9-e18. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.01.007. Epub 2013 Mar 26.

Abstract

Background: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele's role as a modulator of the relationship between soluble plasma amyloid beta (Aβ) and fibrillar brain Aβ measured by Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography ([(11)C]PiB PET) has not been assessed.

Methods: Ninety-six Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants with [(11)C]PiB scans and plasma Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 measurements at the time of PET scanning were included. Regional and voxelwise analyses of [(11)C]PiB data were used to determine the influence of APOE ε4 allele on association of plasma Aβ1-40, Aβ1-42, and Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42 with [(11)C]PiB uptake.

Results: In APOE ε4- but not ε4+ participants, positive relationships between plasma Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42 and [(11)C]PiB uptake were observed. Modeling the interaction of APOE and plasma Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42 improved the explained variance in [(11)C]PiB binding compared with using APOE and plasma Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42 as separate terms.

Conclusions: The results suggest that plasma Aβ is a potential Alzheimer's disease biomarker and highlight the importance of genetic variation in interpretation of plasma Aβ levels.

Keywords: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative; Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid beta; Apolipoprotein E; Mild cognitive impairment; Pittsburgh compound B; Plasma amyloid beta; Positron emission tomography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease* / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease* / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / genetics
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / metabolism
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • 2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thiazoles
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-40)
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)