Article
Divergent biological consequences of APOE isoforms across industrialized and non-industrial environments.
PLoS genetics - 1 Sept 2026
Watowich Marina M, Petersen Rachel M, Brassington Layla, Arner Audrey M, Rodenberg Grace, Tan Boon Huat Tan Bee Ting A/P, Tam Kar Lye, Schellenberg Em, Bin Mohd Sayed Izandis, John Echwa, Kahumbu John C, Muhoya Benjamin, Gurven Michael, Trumble Benjamin C, Njeru Sospeter Ngoci, Martins Dino, Ayroles Julien F, Lim Yvonne A L, Venkataraman Vivek V, Wallace Ian J, Kraft Thomas S, Lea Amanda J
Abstract excerpt
The apolipoprotein ε4 (APOE ε4) isoform directly alters cholesterol and immune biology and is associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative and cardiometabolic disease in industrialized settings; nevertheless, APOE ε4-which is ancestral in humans-has persisted over evolutionary time. One potential explanation is that the costs and benefits of APOE ε4 were significantly different in the environments in...
Read the complete abstract on PubMedTopics
- Humans
- Gene-Environment Interaction
- Protein Isoforms
- Apolipoprotein E4