Description
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) serves as a ligand for low density receptors and participates in the transport and redistribution of cholesterol and other lipids. Other functions include immunoregulation and cell growth modulation and differentiation. APOE is thought to be involved in tissue repair as increased amounts of the protein are found at sites of peripheral nerve injury and regeneration. APOE is essential for the normal catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein constituents. Defects in APOE result in familial dysbetalipoproteinemia, or type III hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP III), in which increased plasma cholesterol and triglycerides are the consequence of impaired clearance of chylomicron and VLDL remnants. The concentration of APOE in normal plasma is 5 mg per 100 mL