Alzheimer’s disease risk gene APOE4 impairs function of brain immune cells

Alzheimer's disease risk gene APOE4 impairs function of brain immune cells
The induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) -derived microglia demonstrate that apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) has a profound impact on several functions of human brain immune cells that could explain mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s disease. Credit: University of Eastern Finland (UEF Viestintä)

A study carried out with a new human stem cell-derived model reveals that the most prevalent genetic risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), impairs the function of human brain immune cells, microglia. These findings pave the way for new, effective treatment approaches for AD. The results were published in Stem Cell Reports.

The study of human microglia has been hindered by the considerable…

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