Study finds differences in APOE 4 expression based on genetic ancestry – National Institute on Aging

Research has shown that changes in certain genes can increase a persons risk of developing Alzheimers disease (AD). The strongest known genetic risk factor for AD is a form of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene called APOE 4. APOE helps carry cholesterol and other fats in the bloodstream, and problems in this process are thought to contribute to AD. NIA-supported researchers recently found that the level of APOE in the brain is dependent on the individuals genetic ancestry surrounding the APOE gene. Led by a team at the University of Miami, these study results were published in Alzheimers & Dementia on Feb. 1.

Everyone inherits two copies of the APOE gene, one from each biological parent. There are three forms, or variants, of APOE that have been shown to alter risk for AD: APOE 2, APOE 3, and APOE 4. On average, people of European ancestry who inherit two copies of APOE 4 have about 10 times the risk of AD compared with people who have only the other two variants. Interestingly, researchers have known for some time that carriers of APOE 4 in African ancestry populations, such as Africans and African Americans, have a lower risk for developing AD than European carriers, while carriers of APOE 4 from Asia have a much higher risk for AD from APOE 4 than Europeans. Earlier studies by the University of Miami researchers in individuals who had both European and African ancestries found that it was the genetic ancestry surrounding the APOE gene that determined the risk, not the gene itself. That is, if a person inherited their APOE 4 gene from their African ancestor, they had the African risk for AD; if they inherited it from their European ancestor, they had the European risk for AD. In the new study, researchers wanted to find out how the same gene variant can cause different levels of risk based on genetic ancestry.

The researchers tested whether genetic ancestry affects the expression of the APOE gene in the brain. They used a technique called single-nucleus RNA sequencing to measure how many APOE transcripts, or RNA copies of the gene, were in each individual cell in the brain. Because a genes transcripts have the instructions to make protein, this measurement gives an estimate of how much APOE protein is being produced in these cells. The researchers tested autopsy brain tissue samples from AD patients: four patients of African ancestry who had inherited APOE 4 from African ancestors and seven non-Hispanic white patients who had inherited APOE 4 from their European ancestors.

On average, the researchers found that cells in the brains of patients with European genetic ancestry surrounding APOE 4 had almost 40% more APOE transcripts than the samples from individuals who had African genetic ancestry surrounding APOE 4. Samples from the European genetic ancestry surrounding APOE 4 also had more of a type of brain cell called A1 reactive astrocytes, which are thought to be involved in the cellular degeneration process of AD. These reactive astrocytes produced the highest levels of APOE 4 expression compared to other cell types. The researchers hypothesize that the region of DNA surrounding APOE 4, which differs between people with European ancestry and people with African ancestry, has important information, such as regulatory elements, that controls how much APOE is produced.

The authors note that they had a small sample size because autopsy brain samples from individuals of African ancestry with AD are scarce. They emphasize that to advance the field of Alzheimers research, it is important to encourage people from all ancestral backgrounds to participate in clinical and genetic research, including tissue donation. The studys results could help researchers develop ways to block APOE 4 activity to reduce the risk of AD in people who have this gene variant.

This research was supported in part by NIA grants R01-AG059018, U01-AG052410, RF1-AG054074, U01-AG057659, P50-AG0256878, and P30-AG013854.

These activities relate to NIHs AD+ADRD Research Implementation Milestone 2.G, Maximize the translational potential of genetics research by ensuring rapid and broad sharing of large-scale genetic/genomic data.

Reference: Griswold AJ, et al. Increased APOE 4 expression is associated with the difference in Alzheimers disease risk from diverse ancestral backgrounds. Alzheimers & Dementia. 2021. ePub Feb 1. doi: 10.1002/alz.12287.

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Study finds differences in APOE 4 expression based on genetic ancestry - National Institute on Aging