How APOE4 changes waste and cholesterol handling in brain support cells
Elucidating endolysosomal trafficking dysregulation induced by APOE4 in human astrocytes
This research looks at how the high-risk APOE4 gene alters waste-processing and cholesterol handling in brain support cells to better understand Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307646 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses human stem-cell derived brain cells to see how APOE4 changes the way support cells (astrocytes, microglia, and endothelial cells) handle cellular waste and cholesterol. Researchers grow human iPSC-derived cells with and without the APOE4 gene, measure global gene activity, and run laboratory experiments that track endolysosomal trafficking and cholesterol movement. The team is looking for a single, shared cellular problem—such as cholesterol getting trapped in lysosomes—that could be targeted by future therapies. All work is performed in lab-grown human cells rather than in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who carry the APOE4 gene, people with Alzheimer’s disease, or volunteers willing to donate blood or skin samples to make stem-cell-derived brain cells would be the best candidates to contribute.
Not a fit: People without the APOE4 risk gene or whose dementia is driven by non-APOE mechanisms may be less likely to see direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new targets to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s by fixing cell waste and cholesterol trafficking in brain support cells.
How similar studies have performed: Other laboratory studies have shown APOE4 affects lipid and lysosomal biology in brain cells, but converting those findings into effective treatments has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tcw, Julia — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Tcw, Julia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.