Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41808104›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuroinflammation2026

ApoE4 Drives Microglial Lipid Dysregulation in Alzheimer's Disease via Epigenetic Reprogramming of the Asxl1/LXRα-H3K4me3 Axis.

Lanyan Lin, Zhen Pan, Zhen Wei, Xiulong Jiang, Yongxing Lai, Mingfeng Chen, Fan Lin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuroinflammation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Lanyan LinDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Geriatrics Diseases, Fujian Provincial Center for Geriatrics, Fuzhou University School of Medicine, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Zhen PanDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Zhen WeiDepartment of Neurology, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Xiulong JiangDepartment of Neurology, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Yongxing LaiDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Geriatrics Diseases, Fujian Provincial Center for Geriatrics, Fuzhou University School of Medicine, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Mingfeng ChenDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Geriatrics Diseases, Fujian Provincial Center for Geriatrics, Fuzhou University School of Medicine, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Fan LinDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Geriatrics Diseases, Fujian Provincial Center for Geriatrics, Fuzhou University School of Medicine, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China. linfan@fjmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Fujian Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Joint Funding Project No.2022J01413Fujian Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Joint Funding Project No.2023Y9289Fujian Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Joint Funding Project No.2025J01073National Natural Science Foundation of China No.82401643
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) stands as the greatest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although microglia accumulating lipid droplets (LDAM) have been implicated in AD pathogenesis, the mechanistic link between ApoE4 and microglial lipid dysregulation remains elusive.

methodsWe employed a multi-omics approach, combining snRNA-seq and locus-specific epigenetic analysis, alongside microglia-specific gene manipulation in ApoE-targeted replacement (TR) mice. Primary microglia were challenged with cholesterol to simulate lipid overload conditions.

resultsIn mid-life ApoE4-TR mice, microglia within the dentate gyrus developed pronounced lipid droplet accumulation, concurrent with impaired Aβ clearance and a pro-inflammatory shift. snRNA-seq unveiled a unique microglial cluster in ApoE4 mice, enriched for lipid-metabolism genes and marked by the pronounced downregulation of the hub gene Asxl1. Mechanistically, ApoE4 attenuated the Asxl1–LXRα interaction, leading to reduced H3K4me3 occupancy at promoters of lipid-efflux genes such as Abca1. Crucially, CRISPR-mediated, microglia-specific overexpression of Asxl1 restored H3K4me3 levels, normalized cholesterol efflux, and rescued Aβ phagocytic deficits in vivo.

conclusionsOur findings define an epigenetic pathway whereby ApoE4 drives microglial dysfunction via the Asxl1–LXRα–H3K4me3 axis, fostering the LDAM phenotype. Enhancing Asxl1 function presents a promising therapeutic avenue for countering ApoE4-mediated pathogenesis in AD.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseApolipoprotein E4Epigenesis, GeneticHistonesLipid MetabolismLiver X ReceptorsMicrogliaRepressor ProteinsAmyloid beta-PeptidesAnimalsCells, CulturedMiceMice, TransgenicAmyloid beta-PeptidesApolipoprotein E4HistonesLiver X ReceptorsRepressor ProteinsAlzheimer’s diseaseApoE4Asxl1EpigeneticsH3K4me3Lipid dropletsMicroglia

Identifiers

PMID41808104
PMCPMC13088513

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.