TY - JOUR T1 - Genetic vulnerability following traumatic brain injury: the role of apolipoprotein E JF - Molecular Pathology JO - Mol Pathol SP - 132 LP - 136 DO - 10.1136/mp.56.3.132 VL - 56 IS - 3 AU - N Nathoo AU - R Chetty AU - J R van Dellen AU - G H Barnett Y1 - 2003/06/01 UR - http://mp.bmj.com/content/56/3/132.abstract N2 - Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is thought to be responsible for the transportation of lipids within the brain, maintaining structural integrity of the microtubule within the neurone, and assisting with neural transmission. Possession of the APOE ε4 allele has also been shown to influence neuropathological findings in patients who die from traumatic brain injury, including the accumulation of amyloid β protein. Previous clinical studies reporting varying outcome severities of traumatic brain injury, including cognitive and functional recovery, all support the notion that APOE ε4 allele possession is associated with an unfavourable outcome. Evidence from experimental and clinical brain injury studies confirms that APOE plays an important role in the response of the brain to injury. ER -