Apoe Mouse Models

Why Model Apoe

Apoe is the mouse ortholog of human APOE and encodes apolipoprotein E, a lipid-transport protein that mediates binding of lipoproteins to cell-surface receptors. The human gene has three common isoforms (ε2, ε3, ε4), and APOE has been associated with lipid metabolism in the periphery and the central nervous system.

The APOE ε4 allele is associated with increased risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and APOE influences amyloid and lipid biology; mechanisms remain an active area of research. Apoe-deficient mice develop hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis and are widely used in cardiovascular research.

Model Applications

Apoe knockout mice are widely used to study atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism. Humanized APOE models expressing specific human isoforms (ε2, ε3, ε4) have been used to investigate isoform-specific effects on lipid biology and features of Alzheimer’s disease.

Custom Apoe Model Options

Engineered to your specifications, with molecular validation of the targeted allele and germline transmission guaranteed.

• Conventional knockout
• Conditional knockout
• Point mutation / knockin
• Reporter knockin
• Humanized
• Targeted transgenic

Sources

• Alzheimer’s disease: a comprehensive review of epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, and management. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024. doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1474043
• Corder EH et al. Gene dose of apolipoprotein E type 4 allele and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in late onset families. Science. 1993. doi:10.1126/science.8346443
• Plump AS et al. Severe hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice created by homologous recombination in ES cells. Cell. 1992. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(92)90362-g

Last reviewed: October 22, 2026 · Reviewed by: Paul Sheiffele

Related gene targets: Ldlr · App · Abca1 · Apob