Truncated apoE forms tangle-like structures in a neuronal cell line.

Apolipoprotein E is the predominant brain lipoprotein and polymorphic variation in the APOE gene the major genetic susceptibly factor for late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently it was reported that carboxyl-truncated ApoE fragments induce tangle-like structures in neurons. We confirm the finding: in mouse neuroblastoma cells truncated apoE fragments lacking the carboxyterminus induce structures that have the appearance of neurofibrillary tangles. However these tangles are not induced in non-neuronal cells even in the presence of co-expressed neurofilaments or tau. Further understanding of the basis of this cell specificity might add to understanding of the cell specificity of tangles in AD.