Interaction effects of butyrylcholinesterase K and apolipoprotein E genotypes related to gray matter volume differences in AD and MCI

Abstract

Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) are two major genotypes known to affect the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Animal studies reported that their biological interactions appear to modulate the activity level of butyrylcholinesterase which is related to beta amyloid protein accumulation. This study analyzes interaction effects of two genotypes in gray matter volume differences. 52 subjects with ApoE ε4-/BuChE K-, 30 subjects ε4+/K-, 28 subjects ε4-/K+, and 5 subjects carrying ε4+/K+ (total 115) were tested. 3D T1 MRI data were preprocessed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM8). For the voxel-based group difference analyses, an analysis of covariance design with two independent variables. Controlled covariates were each subject's age, gender, mini mental state examination score and intracranial volume. The results were represented as uncorrected p-values < 0.001.