Common genetic variation within the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 and late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 May 29;104(22):9434-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0603523104. Epub 2007 May 21.

Abstract

Genome-wide linkage studies have defined a broad susceptibility region for late-onset Alzheimer's disease on chromosome 12, which contains the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein 6 (LRP6) gene, a coreceptor for Wnt signaling. Here, we report the association between common LRP6 variants and late-onset Alzheimer's disease in a multicenter case-control series as well as in a large family-based series ascertained by the National Institute of Mental Health-National Institute on Aging Genetics Initiative. As shown in the genome-wide linkage studies, our association depends mainly on apolipoprotein E-epsilon4 (APOE-epsilon4) carrier status. Haplotype tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a set of seven allelic variants of LRP6 identified a putative risk haplotype, which includes a highly conserved coding sequence SNP: Ile-1062 --> Val. Functional analyses revealed that the associated allele Val-1062, an allele previously linked to low bone mass, has decreased beta-catenin signaling in HEK293T cells. Our study unveils a genetic relationship between LRP6 and APOE and supports the hypothesis that altered Wnt/beta-catenin signaling may be involved in this neurodegenerative disease.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Aging / genetics*
  • Alleles
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 / genetics
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics
  • Haplotypes
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • LDL-Receptor Related Proteins / chemistry
  • LDL-Receptor Related Proteins / genetics*
  • LDL-Receptor Related Proteins / metabolism*
  • Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Valine / genetics
  • Valine / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • LDL-Receptor Related Proteins
  • LRP6 protein, human
  • Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6
  • beta Catenin
  • Valine