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@INPROCEEDINGS{Steward:283154,
author = {Steward, Anna and Dewenter, Anna and Roemer-Cassiano,
Sebastian and Biel, Davina and Zhu, Zeyu and Frontzkowski,
Lukas and Hirsch, Fabian and Klonowksi, Madleen and
Gnoerich, Johannes and Dehsarvi, Amir and Brendel, Matthias
and Franzmeier, Nicolai},
title = {{A}po{E}4 accelerates p ‐tau driven tau aggregation and
spread in {A}lzheimer's {D}isease in a allele‐dose
dependent manner},
journal = {Alzheimer's and dementia},
volume = {21},
number = {S2},
issn = {1552-5260},
reportid = {DZNE-2026-00050},
pages = {e105476},
year = {2025},
abstract = {Background: Understanding factors influencing Alzheimer's
disease (AD) progression is crucial for optimising treatment
timing and targets. A major genetic risk factor, the
Apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (ApoE4), is associated with
earlier tau pathology accumulation and spread at lower
amyloid-beta (Aβ) levels (Steward, JAMA Neurol, 2023).
However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain
unclear (Figure 1A). Therefore, we assessed how ApoE4
accelerates Aβ-related tau aggregation. Specifically, we
investigated whether ApoE4 promotes Aβ-driven secretion of
phospho tau (p-tau) or ptau dependent tau aggregation, and
determined whether ApoE4 promotes tau pathology in an allele
dose-dependent manner. Method: We analysed data from
APOE-genotyped AD-spectrum participants in the ADNI (n =
201) and A4 cohorts (n = 200), integrating cross-sectional
fluid biomarker measures (plasma ptau217, CSF ptau181) and
longitudinal Flortaucipir tau-PET and
Florbetaben/Florbetapir amyloid-PET. Using linear
regression, we assessed whether the interaction between
amyloid-PET and ApoE4 allele dosage influences plasma
ptau217, and replicated this analysis with CSF ptau181 in an
ADNI subset (n = 115). Secondly, to investigate whether
ApoE4 enhances tau fibrilisation and spread, we calculated
annual tau-PET SUVR accumulation rates across a
connectivity-based tau spreading stages, using our prior
methodology (e.g. Franzmeier, Sci Adv, 2020). Linear
regressions tested the interaction between ptau217 (or CSF
ptau181) and ApoE4 allele count on connectivity-mediated
tau-PET accumulation in four connectivity stages that
capture progressive tau spread. Result: ApoE4 allele dosage
did not moderate the relationship between amyloid-PET and
plasma ptau217 in either sample (Figure 1B, ADNI: β=0.13, p
= 0.32; A4: β=-0.20, p = 0.17) nor between amyloid-PET and
CSF ptau181 in ADNI subsample (Figure 1B, b=-.16, p = 0.42).
However, a significant ApoE4 allele dose effect was observed
in moderating the relationship between plasma ptau217 and
tau-PET accumulation across connectivity stages independent
of amyloid burden (Figure 1C, ADNI: Q1–4 mean β=0.44,
Q1-4 p <0.001; A4: Q1-4 mean β = 0.56, Q1,2,4 p <0.001, Q3
p <0.05), with the strongest effect in individuals carrying
two ApoE4 alleles. Conclusion: ApoE4 exerts an allele
dose-dependent effect on ptau induced tau aggregation,
driving accelerated tau spreading at lower Aβ levels. This
suggests that attenuating soluble ptau increases in ApoE4
carriers may mitigate downstream tau fibrilisation and delay
dementia onset, highlighting the potential of personalised
therapeutic approaches.},
month = {Jul},
date = {2025-07-27},
organization = {Alzheimer’s Association
International Conference, Toronto
(Canada), 27 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025},
keywords = {Humans / tau Proteins: cerebrospinal fluid / tau Proteins:
metabolism / tau Proteins: blood / Alzheimer Disease:
genetics / Alzheimer Disease: diagnostic imaging / Alzheimer
Disease: cerebrospinal fluid / Alzheimer Disease: metabolism
/ Biomarkers: cerebrospinal fluid / Biomarkers: blood /
Female / Male / Apolipoprotein E4: genetics / Amyloid
beta-Peptides: metabolism / Amyloid beta-Peptides:
cerebrospinal fluid / Aged / Positron-Emission Tomography /
Aged, 80 and over / Cross-Sectional Studies / Alleles /
Brain: diagnostic imaging / Brain: metabolism / tau Proteins
(NLM Chemicals) / Biomarkers (NLM Chemicals) /
Apolipoprotein E4 (NLM Chemicals) / Amyloid beta-Peptides
(NLM Chemicals) / MAPT protein, human (NLM Chemicals)},
cin = {AG Haass},
ddc = {610},
cid = {I:(DE-2719)1110007},
pnm = {352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-352},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)1 / PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
doi = {10.1002/alz70856_105476},
url = {https://pub.dzne.de/record/283154},
}