Apolipoprotein E: Cholesterol Transport Protein with Expanding Role in Cell Biology
Robert W. Mahley. Science, 1988-04-29
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Apolipoprotein E is a plasma protein that serves as a ligand for low density lipoprotein receptors and, through its interaction with these receptors, participates in the transport of cholesterol and other lipids among various cells of the body. A mutant form of apolipoprotein E that is defective in binding to low density lipoprotein receptors is associated with familial type III hyperlipoproteinemia, a genetic disorder characterized by elevated plasma cholesterol levels and accelerated coronary artery disease. Apolipoprotein E is synthesized in various organs, including liver, brain, spleen, and kidney, and is present in high concentrations in interstitial fluid, where it appears to participate in cholesterol redistribution from cells with excess cholesterol to those requiring cholesterol. Apolipo-protein E also appears to be involved in the repair response to tissue injury; for example, markedly increased amounts of apolipoprotein E are found at sites of peripheral nerve injury and regeneration. Other functions of apolipoprotein E, unrelated to lipid transport, are becoming known, including immunoregulation and modulation of cell growth and differentiation.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Mahley, R. W. (1988). Apolipoprotein E: Cholesterol Transport Protein with Expanding Role in Cell Biology. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3283935
Vancouver
Mahley RW. Apolipoprotein E: Cholesterol Transport Protein with Expanding Role in Cell Biology. Science. 1988. doi:10.1126/science.3283935. PMID: 3283935.
BibTeX
@article{mahley1988-3283935,
author = {Mahley, Robert W.},
title = {{Apolipoprotein E: Cholesterol Transport Protein with Expanding Role in Cell Biology}},
journal = {Science},
year = {1988},
doi = {10.1126/science.3283935},
pmid = {3283935},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3283935}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Why it matters
Describes apolipoprotein E, a blood protein that helps carry cholesterol and other fats between cells, and its roles in repair after nerve injury, immune regulation and cell growth. The summary does not discuss Alzheimer's disease.
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How this study scored 57/100
Published in a top-tier journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on strength of evidence, so that was left out: it earned 54 of the 95 points we could judge it on, which is 57 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 10 / 10 | Tier 1 — top-tier general journal (Science) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Science: journal h-index 1,754 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | — / 5 | No evidence rating recorded — left out of this score |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1988 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 4,044 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 101.1 citations a year over 40 year(s) since 1988 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 91.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 183 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Robert W. Mahley: h-index 129 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 3283935) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 54 / 95 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 54 of the 95 points we could judge it on is 57 out of 100. |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
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