Apolipoprotein E is required for brain iron homeostasis in mice.

Background: Apolipoprotein E deficiency (ApoE) increases progressively iron in the liver, spleen and aortic tissues with age in mice. However, it is unknown whether ApoE affects brain iron.

Methods: We investigated iron contents, expression of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), ferroportin 1 (Fpn1), iron regulatory proteins (IRPs), aconitase, hepcidin, Aβ42, MAP2, reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytokines and glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) in the brain of ApoE mice.