The role of clusterin in Alzheimer's disease: pathways, pathogenesis, and therapy

Mol Neurobiol. 2012 Apr;45(2):314-26. doi: 10.1007/s12035-012-8237-1. Epub 2012 Jan 25.

Abstract

Genetic variation in clusterin gene, also known as apolipoprotein J, has been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) through replicated genome-wide studies, and plasma clusterin levels are associated with brain atrophy, baseline prevalence and severity, and rapid clinical progression in patients with AD, highlighting the importance of clusterin in AD pathogenesis. Emerging data suggest that clusterin contributes to AD through various pathways, including amyloid-β aggregation and clearance, lipid metabolism, neuroinflammation, and neuronal cell cycle control and apoptosis. Moreover, epigenetic regulation of the clusterin expression also seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Emerging knowledge of the contribution of clusterin to the pathogenesis of AD presents new opportunities for AD therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / etiology
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Clusterin / genetics
  • Clusterin / metabolism
  • Clusterin / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / physiology*

Substances

  • CLU protein, human
  • Clusterin