Viral infection triggers the antiviral cell response by activating the innate cellular immune system that recognizes various viral components. One component of this process is the cytoplasmic helicase RIG-1 which is a pattern recognition receptor.
A major histopathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the presence of amyloid deposits in the parenchyma of the amygdala, hippocampus, and neocortex. The principal component of amyloid is beta amyloid (AB). The pathologic accumulation of AB in plaques is postulated to result from an imbalance between production and clearance during aging.
Apolipoprotein E also known as ApoE is a 36kDa protein that is expressed in all lipoprotein fractions in plasma. This protein is produced in high quantities in the liver, brain, spleen, lung and kidney. The function of APOE is to mediate the binding, internalize and catabolize lipoprotein particles. A study carried out by researchers at the Case Western Reserve University in Ohio has recently been highlighted in the BBC Health News.