2. Academic Validation
  3. Protective ApoE variants support neuronal function by effluxing oxidized phospholipids

Protective ApoE variants support neuronal function by effluxing oxidized phospholipids

  • Neuron. 2025 Dec 2:S0896-6273(25)00847-5. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.10.040.
Isha Ralhan 1,  Alison D Do 1,  Ju-Young Bae 1,  Femke M Feringa 2,  Wendy Cai 1,  Jinlan Chang 1,  Kennedi Chik 1,  Nathanael Y J Lee 3,  Christopher J Gerry 4,  Rik van der Kant 5,  Jesse Jackson 6,  Emily L Ricq 4,  Maria S Ioannou 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
  • 2 Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
  • 3 Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
  • 4 Kisbee Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
  • 5 Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
  • 6 Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
  • 7 Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41338186 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.10.040
Abstract

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) mediates the bidirectional transport of lipids between cells. In the brain, this includes the transfer of lipids from neurons to glia. ApoE4, a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, impairs this transport pathway, increasing risk for neurodegeneration. ApoE2 and ApoE3 Christchurch (ApoE3Ch) confer resistance to disease, yet little is known regarding how these variants affect lipid trafficking. Here, we explored how lipoprotein particles containing different apoE isoforms affect neuronal health. We demonstrate that ApoE2 and ApoE3Ch particles protect neurons from Ferroptosis by extracting oxidized unsaturated lipids through the ABCA7 transporter. ApoE4 particles, on the Other hand, exacerbate the effects of these toxic lipids, leading to endolysosomal dysfunction. By reducing the oxidized lipid burden in ApoE4 neurons, ApoE2 and ApoE3Ch particles rescue endolysosomal function and restore defects in neuronal activity caused by excitotoxicity. Our findings reveal how ApoE2 and ApoE3Ch help protect neurons from neurodegeneration.

Keywords

ABCA7; APOE3 Christchurch; ApoE2; ferroptosis; lipid peroxidation; neuron; unsaturated lipid.

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