Association between milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 with Alzheimer disease
Objective To investigate the association between milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8(MFG-E8)and Alzheimer disease(AD).Methods The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database was used,and a multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the association of MFG-E8 with the pathological markers of AD and brain structure and perform subgroup analyses.The mixed-effects model was used to investigate the longitudinal changes in MFG-E8 with AD pathological markers and brain structure,and a mediation analysis was used to investigate the potential association of MFG-E8 with AD pathology and brain structure.Results A total of 377 individuals were en-rolled in the study.The level of MFG-E8 was positively correlated with the concentrations of amyloid β-protein 42(Aβ42),tau protein,and phosphorylated tau protein in cerebrospinal fluid,and subgroup analyses showed that the correlation of MFG-E8 with the concentrations of AD pathological markers and lateral ventricular volume in male individuals,the elderly popula-tion,and the individuals carrying the APOE4 gene was consistent with that in the overall population.Longitudinal studies showed that during follow-up,the increase in MFG-E8 level was significantly associated with enlarged lateral ventricle volume.In addition,MFG-E8 could alter lateral ventricle volume by affecting the level of Aβ42.Conclusion MFG-E8 is associated with AD and may influence lateral ventricular volume through AD pathological markers.