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Both Targeted Mass Spectrometry and Flow Sorting Analysis Methods Detected the Decreased Serum Apolipoprotein E Level in Alzheimer's Disease Patients
Sun-Ho Han, Jun Seok Kim, Young-Ju Lee, Hee-Sun Choi, Jong‐Won Kim, Duk Lyul Na, Eun Gyeong Yang, Myeong‐Hee Yu et al.. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, 2013-12-08
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism has been appreciated as a valuable predictor of Alzheimer disease (AD), and the associated ε4 allele has been recognized as an indicator of susceptibility to this disease. However, serum ApoE levels have been a controversial issue in AD, due to the great variability regarding the different target detection methods, ethnicity, and the geographic variations of cohorts. The aim of this study was to validate serum ApoE levels in relation to AD, particularly using two distinct detection methods, liquid chromatography-selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mass spectrometry and microsphere-based fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, to overcome experimental variations. Also, comparison of serum ApoE levels was performed between the level of protein detection by FACS and peptide level by SRM in both control and AD patients. Results from the two detection methods were cross-confirmed and validated. Both methods produced fairly consistent results, showing a significant decrease of serum ApoE levels in AD patients relative to those of a control cohort (43 control versus 45 AD, p < 0.0001). Significant correlation has been revealed between results from FACS and SRM (p < 0.0001) even though lower serum ApoE concentration values were measured in protein by FACS analysis than in peptide-level detections by SRM. Correlation study suggested that a decrease of the serum ApoE level in AD is related to the mini-mental state exam score in both results from different experimental methods, but it failed to show consistent correlation with age, gender, or clinical dementia rating.
Key findings
- Results from the two detection methods were cross-confirmed and validated.
- Both methods produced fairly consistent results, showing a significant decrease of serum ApoE levels in AD patients relative to those of a control cohort (43 control versus 45 AD, p < 0.0001).
- Significant correlation has been revealed between results from FACS and SRM (p < 0.0001) even though lower serum ApoE concentration values were measured in protein by FACS analysis than in peptide-level detections by SRM.
- Correlation study suggested that a decrease of the serum ApoE level in AD is related to the mini-mental state exam score in both results from different experimental methods, but it failed to show consistent correlation with age, gender, or clinical dementia rating.
Why it matters
Using two different detection methods, this study found significantly lower serum apolipoprotein E levels in Alzheimer's disease patients compared to controls. This is a biomarker finding and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Molecular & Cellular Proteomics) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Molecular & Cellular Proteomics: journal h-index 241 (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 | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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 | 3 / 7 | Cited 29 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.9 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.3× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Inhee Mook‐Jung: h-index 71 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Seoul National University: institution h-index 1,053 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 24319058) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m113.028639
- PubMed: 24319058
- Original source →
- Free full text: Molecular & Cellular Proteomics →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Han, S.-H., Kim, J. S., Lee, Y.-J., Choi, H.-S., Kim, J., Na, D. L., et al. (2013). Both Targeted Mass Spectrometry and Flow Sorting Analysis Methods Detected the Decreased Serum Apolipoprotein E Level in Alzheimer's Disease Patients. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. https://doi.org/10.1074/mcp.m113.028639
Vancouver
Han S.-H, Kim JS, Lee Y.-J, Choi H.-S, Kim J, Na DL, et al. Both Targeted Mass Spectrometry and Flow Sorting Analysis Methods Detected the Decreased Serum Apolipoprotein E Level in Alzheimer's Disease Patients. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. 2013. doi:10.1074/mcp.m113.028639. PMID: 24319058.
BibTeX
@article{han2013-24319058,
author = {Han, Sun-Ho and Kim, Jun Seok and Lee, Young-Ju and Choi, Hee-Sun and Kim, Jong‐Won and Na, Duk Lyul and Yang, Eun Gyeong and Yu, Myeong‐Hee and others},
title = {{Both Targeted Mass Spectrometry and Flow Sorting Analysis Methods Detected the Decreased Serum Apolipoprotein E Level in Alzheimer's Disease Patients}},
journal = {Molecular \& Cellular Proteomics},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1074/mcp.m113.028639},
pmid = {24319058},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1074/mcp.m113.028639}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.