Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2014, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (1): 69-75.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.125332

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A non-invasive, rapid method to genotype late-onset Alzheimer’s disease-related apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms

Li Yi1, Ting Wu1, Wenyuan Luo1, Wen Zhou2,  Jun Wu1   

  1. 1 Department of Neurology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
    2 Department of Radiology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2013-12-14 Online:2014-01-05 Published:2014-01-05
  • Contact: Li Yi, M.D., Department of Neurology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518036, Guangdong Province, China, yilitj@hotmail.com.
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by two grants from Science, Industry, Trade and Information Technology Commission of Shenzhen Municipality in China, grant No. 201002063, JC201105180757A.

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Abstract:

The apolipoprotein E gene ε4 allele is considered a negative factor for neural regeneration in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease cases. The aim of this study was to establish a non-invasive, rapid method to genotype apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms. Genomic DNA from mouth swab specimens was extracted using magnetic nanoparticles, and genotyping was performed by real-time PCR using TaqMan-BHQ probes. Genotyping accuracy was validated by DNA sequencing. Our results demonstrate 100% correlation to DNA sequencing, indicating reliability of our protocol. Thus, the method we have developed for apolipoprotein E genotyping is accurate and reliable, and also suitable for genotyping large samples, which may help determine the role of the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele in neural regeneration in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease cases.

Key words: nerve regeneration, neurodegeneration, late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, apolipoprotein E gene, real-time PCR, DNA sequencing, risk factor, allele, neural regeneration