OBJECTIVETo explore the relations among apolipoprotein E4, Tau protein and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β).

METHODSU87 cells were transfected with pIRES-EGFP (control) or the recombinant plasmids ApoE4/pIRES-EGFP or ApoE3/pIRES-EGFP, and the expression levels of p-Tau/Tau and GSK-3β in the cells were examined with Western blotting. To further confirm the effect of ApoE on GSK-3β and p-Tau expressions, a short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting ApoE (ApoE-siRNA) was transfected into U87 cells via Lipofectamine 2000 and the protein expressions were examined 24 h later.

RESULTSCompared with those in the control group, the expressions levels of both GSK-3β and p-Tau/Tau increased significantly in the cells transfected with ApoE4 and ApoE3 plasmids (P<0.01), and the ApoE4 plasmid produced a more potent effect than the ApoE3 plasmid on the protein expressions (P<0.01). ApoE knockdown resulted in significantly reduced expressions of GSK-3β (P<0.001) and p-Tau (P<0.01) in the cells.

CONCLUSIONApoE4 can enhance Tau phosphorylation though upregulating GSK-3β, which sheds light on a new role of ApoE4 in Alzheimer's disease.