# The role of ApoE in injury-induced neurogenesis

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $315,000

## Abstract

Project Summary
Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), patients often develop significant disability in cognition, communication,
and behavioral or emotional stability. Problems with memory commonly occur following TBI and underlie some
of the morbidity accompanying each of these affected areas. In addition, there is some spontaneous recovery
after brain injury that occurs largely by unknown remodeling processes. It has been known for some time that
TBI elicits increased generation of new neurons in the hippocampus; the significance of this, however, has not
been clear. We have recently demonstrated that injury-induced neurogenesis underlies at least some of the
spontaneous recovery associated with TBI. ApoE is a gene that commonly occurs in 3 different isoforms in
humans and the particular isoform expressed is predictive of recovery following TBI. We have recently
identified ApoE as an important regulator of hippocampal neurogenesis. The overall goals of this project are
to determine how ApoE directs injury-induced neurogenesis following TBI and to investigate mechanisms that
regulate this process. In Specific Aim 1, we will establish how ApoE and two commonly occurring human
isoforms, APOE3 and APOE4 regulate injury-induced neurogenesis. For Specific Aim 2, we will use our
recently generated floxed ApoE mouse to conditionally ablate ApoE specifically from progenitors and
astrocytes to determine its in vivo function on neurogenesis during development and following injury. Finally,
in Specific Aim 3, we will analyze injury-induced neurons in a variety of ApoE states and analyze how these
states affect activation during learning and overall integration into the hippocampus. This project will therefore
serve as the basis for translational studies aimed at using the presence of specific APOE isoforms in humans
to direct reparative therapy following serious brain injuries such as TBI.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9846253
- **Project number:** 5R01NS095803-04
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Steven Gerard Kernie
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $315,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-01-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9846253

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9846253, The role of ApoE in injury-induced neurogenesis (5R01NS095803-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9846253. Licensed CC0.

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