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What roles do the CD33 PICALM and CD2AP genes have in Alzheimer disease research?
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Alzheimer disease
Histopathologic image of neuritic plaques in the cerebral cortex in a patient with Alzheimer disease of presenile onset (onset before age 65).
In Alzheimer disease research, the CD33, PICALM, and CD2AP genes have been identified as factors implicated in the development of the condition. Their roles are understood through the functions of the proteins they encode:1
- CD33: This gene encodes a cell surface protein of the same name.1
- PICALM: This gene encodes a protein that is involved in endocytosis, which is the process by which cells take up substances.1
- CD2AP: This gene encodes a protein that interacts with the cell membrane and is also thought to play a role in endocytosis.1
While these genes are recognized as being associated with the disease, they are distinct from the primary genetic factors often cited in early- and late-onset cases, such as APP or APOE4, which are more directly linked to amyloid beta production and cholesterol transport.12